Pope Leo XIV drew large crowds in Paris on Saturday, with hundreds of thousands of people turning out along the Champs-Élysées ahead of an open-air Mass in the city center, according to reports from Euronews.com and CBC. Euronews.com reported that around 600,000 people were awaiting the Mass, while CTV News put the figure for the central Paris gathering at 800,000.
The Mass was to be held on one of the French capital's iconic squares, CTV News reported. The scale of the turnout made the Paris leg a historic moment of the pope's visit to France, according to Euronews.com.
After the Paris events, Pope Leo traveled to Lourdes for the second stage of his trip, Euronews.com reported. The Toronto Star reported that at the shrine, which is known for miraculous cures, the pope brought a message about protecting life.
The figures given by the different outlets for the Paris crowds vary, and no single official count was cited in the material available. The visit has combined a major public gathering in the capital with a stop at one of the most visited Catholic sites in France.
What to watch next: further reporting from Lourdes, where the pope's message and any additional events on the French leg of the trip are expected to draw continued attention.
