“Why 700,000 Turned Out for Pope Leo in Secular France” — what this page in the network covers. Pope Leo XIV has drawn an estimated 700,000 people to an open-air Mass in the heart of Paris, an extraordinary turnout in a country where Catholic affiliation has been declining for decades. Crowds packed the Champs-Élysées as the pope travelled by popemobile to Place de la Concorde, a location closely associated with the French Republic and one that has also prompted debate in a country with a strict tradition of secularism.
During his four-day visit, Pope Leo has addressed war, the crisis facing migrants, and other pressing global issues. His presence in such a symbolic French setting has sparked conversations about the role of religion in public life and the enduring influence of the papacy even in a secular nation. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.