Pope Leone XIV in France: Mass in Paris and Trip to Lourdes

Pope celebrates Mass in Paris at Place de la Concorde and leaves in the afternoon for Lourdes, where he will pray at the Grotto

Summary of the Apostolic Day

On the second day of the Pope's apostolic visit to France, the pontiff kept engagements in Paris in the morning and traveled in the afternoon to Lourdes, a Marian sanctuary in the Pyrenees, where he closed the day with a prayer at the Grotto of the apparitions, according to ANSA. The schedule combines social and liturgical initiatives aimed at both local people and international pilgrims.

Morning Agenda in Paris

In the morning, at 9 a.m., the Pope visited the Center of welcome dedicated to Santa Bakhita, an institution focused on supporting migrants and people in vulnerable situations. The action reflects the pastoral priority of the pontificate to accompany the most fragile, a topic of interest for readers connected to social and religious issues in /vida-na-italia and in Brazil.

At 10 a.m., the Pope attended a gathering at the Catholic Institute of Paris with catechumens — adults preparing for baptism. The moment emphasized the importance of catechesis and Christian initiation, with messages directed to the community and to future baptisms, as reported by ANSA.

Mass and Public Attendance

The main Mass of the day was celebrated at 3:00 p.m. at Place de la Concorde, where large public participation was anticipated. According to ANSA, citing local organizers, the attendance was estimated at about 600,000 faithful (estimate provided by organizers). The celebration included liturgical readings, the Pope's homily, and moments of communal singing, reinforcing the public and symbolic character of the visit.

For Brazilian readers and descendants of Italians, liturgical events in public squares like this tend to resonate as they transmit signals of the magisterium and attract international attention — a topic often covered in /noticias and in articles about religious life abroad.

Travel to Lourdes and Final Action of the Day

After the Mass, the Pope proceeded to Orly Airport and departed at 5:45 p.m. for Lourdes, with an expected arrival at 7:05 p.m., according to the schedule released by the organizers and confirmed by sources cited by ANSA. At 7:40 p.m., the Pope prayed at the Grotto of the Lourdes apparitions, a central landmark of the sanctuary and a moment of great devotion for pilgrims.

The Lourdes program traditionally includes meetings with the sick and moments of communal prayer; in this stage, the prayer at the Grotto was the last commitment of the apostolic day, closing the journey with Marian emphasis.

Relevance for Brazilian Readers and Descendants

The Pope's visit mobilizes the attention of Catholics worldwide, including Brazilians and descendants of Italians who follow the Pope's voices and gestures. The Paris leg — focused on social hospitality and catechesis — and the Lourdes sequence — emphasizing penitence and Marian devotion — provide resources for those following the papacy and the Church's social themes in /noticias and for those studying the impact of Catholicism among Italian and Brazilian communities, a topic addressed in our texts on /cidadania and /vida-na-italia.

The journey blends public presence in squares and devotion sites, in addition to meetings with vulnerable groups and catechumens, signaling an agenda that mixes pastoral social and liturgical elements.

Conclusion: the second day of the Pope's apostolic visit to France united social, liturgical, and pilgrim commitments — from Place de la Concorde to the Lourdes Grotto — reaffirming the public and spiritual character of the trip.

Source: ANSA