Pope Francis Draws 700,000 at Paris Mass, Urging Environmental Justice and Faith

At the intersection of the Place de la Concorde and the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris, Pope Francis presided over a large open-air Mass on the 26th of this month. According to figures released by the Vatican, approximately 700,000 the faithful gathered to pray with the Pope, creating a magnificent and spectacular scene. With an estimated 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, the Pope's appearance symbolized the convergence of global faith. This also marked his first visit to France since 2016, which he completed on the second day of his official visit.

The Pope's visit to France marks the resumption of the highest-level Vatican visit to the country in 18 years. The last time a pontiff set foot on French soil was in 2006, when Benedict XVI held a Mass for the Feast of the Assumption in Paris, which also drew hundreds of thousands of believers. The itineraries of both popes shared the theme of promoting dialogue between the Church and secular society. Francis's current visit, however, particularly emphasized environmental protection and social justice, with the expectation of influencing public policy as a moral leader.

As the birthplace of the Enlightenment, France has long taken secularism as the cornerstone of its state, resulting in a relatively restricted role for the Church in public life. In recent years, sexual abuse scandals and financial crises have led to a continuous decline in church membership and a significant reduction in diocesan revenue. Facing these challenges, the Pope's open-air Mass was seen as a symbolic action to revitalize the faith and restore public trust, as well as a gesture of comfort and encouragement to wounded believers.

French President Emmanuel Macron, prior to the Mass,