On Saturday, Pope Leo addressed a massive crowd in Paris at an outdoor Mass, emphasizing that true happiness comes from faith and not material possessions. The event took place on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, attracting about 700,000 attendees who cheered as he arrived in an open-top popemobile, blessing people along the way. Notable attendees included Brigitte Macron, Marine Le Pen, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, and billionaire Bernard Arnault.
During his sermon, Leo expressed gratitude for his visit to France, where he aims to restore the Church’s image after recent abuse scandals. He reminded Catholics that only faith can fill their inner emptiness. Attendees appreciated his call for peace, with one supporter highlighting his consistent peace advocacy amidst global conflicts.
The pope raised concerns about the current global leadership and warned of a crisis within the UN and similar organizations. He also addressed the potential risks of developing artificial intelligence, suggesting it could lead to a troubling future.
In France, a nation where church and state are separate, the Catholic Church has seen a decline in affiliation among the younger population since World War Two. Despite recent increases in adult baptisms, official statistics show that only 25% of young adults identified as Catholic compared to 43% a decade ago. During a visit to newly baptized Catholics before the Mass, Leo urged the Church to be realistic about this small rise and to nurture the faith within the community.
Later, Pope Leo is scheduled to visit Lourdes to meet with victims of clergy abuse, continuing his efforts to address the issues within the Church.
With information from Reuters