The upcoming visit of Leo XIV to France has sparked a massive response among Catholics. More than 200,000 people registered this Monday, August 10, to participate in the Mass that the Pope will celebrate on September 26 in central Paris, while the 80,000 spots planned for the youth vigil the previous day at the Stade de France were filled within hours.
Reservations opened at noon, and before the end of the day, the organization had already announced that the stadium had reached capacity. The response is one of the first signs of the mobilization that will accompany Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to France, scheduled between September 25 and 28.
80,000 young people will fill the Stade de France
The vigil on Friday the 25th is aimed at young people aged 17 to 35 and will take place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The venue has around 80,000 spots for the event, and demand led to the activation of a waiting list on the same day reservations began.
The organization explained that some spots may still become available due to cancellations or the removal of duplicate registrations. Those places will be offered first to those on the waiting list.
“The response to the Pope’s visit to Paris is overwhelming. What joy!” noted the portal set up to manage registrations.
More than 200,000 registered for the Mass on the Champs-Élysées
The call for Saturday the 26th has generated even greater interest. In just a few hours, more than 200,000 people had registered for the solemn Mass that Leo XIV will preside over between Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées.
Unlike the vigil, registration is not a mandatory requirement to attend the celebration. The organization recommends signing up to facilitate the welcome arrangements, but has explained that people without reservations may also enter as long as space is available in the designated areas.
Both events will be free of charge.
The visit to Paris will begin on Friday the 25th and will also include the celebration of Vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral. After the major events in the capital, Leo XIV will travel to Lourdes, where he will celebrate Mass on Sunday the 27th, and then to Metz, the final stop of his stay in France.
The speed with which the vigil spots were filled and the more than 200,000 requests registered for the Mass foreshadow one of the largest gatherings of the faithful during Leo XIV’s trip to France.