In brief
Pope Leo XIII marks his first European pilgrimage since 2015. The French capital saw a queue of thousands gathering at Orly Airport as the pontiff arrived for a four‑day tour of Paris and surrounding areas. He spoke at the Élysée Palace about AI and geopolitics, signalling the Church's engagement with modern challenges. A massive pastoral mass will draw over half a million people to Notre‑Dame’s square. The event reflects a revival of religious sentiment among the French and global interest in the papacy.
Pope Leo XIII arrives in France for a four‑day tour that will culminate in a huge pastoral mass.
The pontiff was welcomed by President Emmanuel Macron at Orly Airport and then spoke at the Élysée Palace about the role of artificial intelligence and geopolitics in the modern world.
A crowd of thousands gathered in the streets of Paris to watch the Pope make his way to the capital, where more than 500,000 people are expected to attend the mass held in front of Notre‑Dame’s square.
Experts say the event points to a renewed spiritual interest among French citizens, while the Pope’s message signals the Catholic Church’s willingness to engage with contemporary global challenges.
The papal visit, which began in late September, is the highest level of Vatican fanfare in France in a generation and was covered live by RealTime Wire’s 24/7 live‑streaming service.