Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for hundreds of thousands in Paris

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday celebrated Mass for hundreds of thousands of worshippers in central Paris.

The Vatican said some 700,000 people attended the open-air service at the Place de la Concorde, near the Champs-Elysees.

Leo's first trip to France since becoming pope

Pope Leo is on a four-day visit to France that will see him travel to Lourdes and Metz, as well as Paris. It's his first visit to France since becoming pope last year.

Crowds began queuing hours before the service began, with many parents and children among those hoping to catch a glimpse of the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

"It's a big event, we've come to share the Christian fervour," teacher Sylvie Leclerc told the AFP news agency.

"You don't hear much from us Catholics, but now we're going to make some noise! But to proclaim love, peace, joy," she added.

Earlier on Saturday, the pope visited a social center and later met with adults who had recently been baptized.

On Friday, around 300,000 people gathered to see the pontiff as he waved from his popemobile on the way to the restored Notre Dame Cathedral, which had to be restored after a devastating fire in 2019.

French President Emmanuel Macron did not appear at the Mass. however, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Edouard Philippe have confirmed their attendance.