More than 700,000 faithful flooded the length of the Champs-Élysées in Paris to attend the open-air Mass celebrated by Pope Leo.

Chants of “Leo, Leo” and “Long live the Pope” echoed along the tree-lined avenue, approximately 2 kilometers long, from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, as crowds gathered behind the security barriers to get a closer look at Leo, who arrived in an open-top papal vehicle.

The vehicle stopped frequently, while the faithful waved white and yellow Vatican flags and Pope Leo blessed people with disabilities, children, and babies, whom volunteers brought close to him.

If you want to go to confession, there are priests waiting for you along the Champs-Élysées, before the Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV at Place de la Concorde.

pic.twitter.com/6x7MyJsLLQ

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— ISHKA (@zvonko2026) September 26, 2026

Brigitte Macron and Bernard Arnault were among those in attendance

Among those in attendance were Brigitte Macron, wife of the French president, far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who is leading in the polls ahead of next year’s presidential election, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, and Bernard Arnault, the billionaire chairman of the French luxury goods group LVMH.

Cheers rang out from the crowd when Leon thanked God in his sermon for the opportunity to visit France, as part of an intensive four-day tour of three cities, during which he seeks to restore the Church’s prestige following the sexual abuse scandals that have shocked the entire country.

Confessions are taking place on the street, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, on the occasion of Pope Leo’XIV.pic.twitter.com/epmZbZMO4x’s visit

— AlertesInfos (@AlertesInfos) September 26, 2026

Open-Air Confessionals

At the same time, unprecedented scenes are unfolding along the Champs-Élysées. Videos circulating online and images published by independent photographer Paul Laroutourou show numerous Catholic clergy sitting side by side on the sidewalk, receiving parishioners who wanted to confess and receive Communion on the street.

Source: iefimerida.gr