Brief Published (Dubai time, UTC+4) · source dated 2026-09-25
More than 600,000 people are expected Saturday to attend the mass celebrated by Pope Leon XIV at Place de la Concorde in Paris, according to France 24.
Additionally, tickets for the youth vigil at the Stade de France sold out within hours, reflecting strong enthusiasm.
This mobilization comes as the number of Catholic faithful in France has been steadily declining for several decades. At the same time, a growing number of adults are being baptized each year, which may indicate a revival or renewed interest in Catholicism.
Update, 26 Sep 2026, 18:34 (Dubai time, UTC+4): The update specifies that the crowd extends along the Champs-Élysées and Avenue de la Grande-Armée, and mentions journalists and experts commenting on the event on site.
