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Pope Leo XIV draws 800,000 faithful to Paris before emotional Lourdes pilgrimage
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- Sep 26, 2026, 9:48 PM UTC
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Commune in Occitania, France
Lourdes is a market town situated in the Pyrenees. It is part of the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. Prior to the mid-19th century, the town was best known for its Château fort, a fortified castle that rises up from a rocky escarpment at its center.
More on Wikipedia ↗Capital of France
Paris is the capital and largest city of France, with an estimated city population of 2.04 million in an area of 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi), as of January 2026, and a metropolitan population of 13.3 million (2023). Located on the Seine in the centre of the Île-de-France region, it is the largest metropolitan area and fourth-most populous city in the European Union (EU). Paris is nicknamed the "City of Light" mainly due to its leading role in the Age of Enlightenment.
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Pope Leo XIV drew an estimated 800,000 to Place de la Concorde for a historic open-air Mass, urging French Catholics to share their faith openly.
Close to 800,000 people lined Paris' Champs Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde for Mass Sept. 26 with Pope Leo XIV, who urged the people of France to follow Jesus to the source of true happiness and peace.
On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV continues his visit to France with a large outdoor Mass at Paris's Place de la Concorde, followed by prayers with the faithful in Lourdes. #EuropeNews