Pope Leo XIV's Eucharistic ceremony was held on Saturday, September 26 (Mehr 4) in Paris, and according to French officials, around 800,000 people participated in this religious event. This event is recognized as one of the largest religious ceremonies in the history of France.
Unprecedented Reception for the Pope
Pope Leo XIV was met with a warm welcome and cheers from a massive crowd as he passed through the magnificent Champs-Élysées in the papal vehicle. The Eucharistic ceremony took place in Place de la Concorde, one of the largest squares in Paris. To ensure the security of this event, 14,000 security forces were deployed in Paris, and the police had blocked a wide area around the Champs-Élysées.
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The cost of the Pope's trip to France has been reported to be 27 million euros, which the Church of France relies on donations to finance. These donations are expected to cover a significant portion of the expenses.
Presence of Politicians and Existing Tensions
Several politicians also attended the Eucharistic ceremony. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, was not present at the event, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu represented him. This was attributed to the principle of strict separation of church and state in France. However, Brigitte, Macron's wife, was in attendance.
Relations between France and the Vatican have always been influenced by tensions. One reason for these tensions is a law passed this summer in France regarding assistance in the death of patients with terminal illnesses, as well as the right to abortion recognized in the country's constitution. Pope Leo XIV is strongly opposed to these issues.
Invitation to Reflection and Faith Expansion
In a sermon delivered by Pope Leo XIV, he urged people to reflect on the meaning of life and asked, "What are we truly seeking in life?" He encouraged French Catholics not to keep their faith in Jesus Christ to themselves but to share it with others so that others may also attain a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Pope Leo XIV also expressed gratitude to families for their participation in spreading faith and told the youth, "You are the Church of today! How beautiful it is to see your enthusiasm, energy, commitment, and joy in Christian communities."
On Saturday, the Pope first visited a social center and then met with adults who had recently been baptized. He urged them not to waver in their faith in Christ and to continue spreading the faith.
After the Eucharistic ceremony in Paris, Pope Leo XIV headed to the pilgrimage city of Lourdes, and his final stop on Monday will be the city of Metz. According to the French Bishops' Conference, this year, 13,000 adults in the country, three times the number a decade ago, have been baptized.
However, the number of infant baptisms has decreased to less than half since 2000, indicating the challenges the Church is facing.
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