Pope Leo draws record-breaking crowd of 800K and rallies young people for historic Paris Mass, tell me about this news in (https://nypost.com/2026/09/26/world-news/pope-leo-xiv-celebrated-outdoor-mass-in-paris-with-a-crowd-of-800k/)

Pope Leo XIV celebrated a historic, large-scale outdoor Mass on the Champs-Élysées and at the Place de la Concorde in central Paris, drawing an estimated crowd of 800,000 people. The massive turnout marked a major highlight of his four-day tour of France, defying expectations in the officially secular country.

Before the service, the pontiff traveled in an open-top popemobile along a stretch of the boulevard, waving to jubilant crowds, blessing children, and being greeted by chants from people of various backgrounds, faiths, and generations. During his homily, Pope Leo addressed the gathering of young people and worshippers by urging them to seek true happiness, peace, and meaning through their faith rather than turning to material goods or instant gratification.

The event also drew prominent French political figures and public personalities, and came shortly after the Pope’s visits to other French locations like Notre-Dame cathedral and a meeting with newly baptized adults, highlighting a notable recent uptick in adult conversions across France.