Pope Leo in Paris
https://servantesdespauvres-osb.org: A group of youth leaders from the Patronage welcome Pope Leo XIV to Paris – An account by Constance and Laetitia
Saturday 26 September 2026 will remain a special day for us, a day we will cherish in our hearts for a long time to come, says Constance.
After several hours’ drive, we finally arrived in Paris. And what a thrill it was to see that huge crowd! Nearly 800,000 people had gathered at the Place de la Concorde to attend the Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV. Young people, families, children, the elderly… all generations were united in the same faith, the same hope and the same joy.
When the Popemobile appeared on the giant screens, a huge cheer went up: ‘Long live Pope Leo!’ The Vatican’s white and yellow flags were waving in every direction. Then, just as the Popemobile was driving down the Champs-Élysées, the sun came out. It was a magnificent moment. We almost felt as though the heavens themselves were taking part in this great celebration.
For me, that day was particularly moving. On several occasions, I had tears in my eyes. It wasn’t sadness, quite the opposite. It was a deep emotion, difficult to put into words, as if something were touching my heart directly. Seeing so many people gathered together in calm, joy and peace made a deep impression on me. In the midst of such a huge crowd, there was neither violence nor disorder. Just smiles, songs, prayers and that very strong sense of experiencing something truly great, all together.
At a time when some churches are sometimes almost empty, seeing such a large crowd gathered together in their faith did me a world of good. It restored my hope. It also reminded me that we are not alone in believing, praying and wanting to live out our faith.
Laëtitia, too, was deeply moved by this experience. She shares her thoughts with great simplicity: “It was an intense experience and a very interesting one to go through. Living out my faith with the Servants of the Poor, but also as part of such a large group, was a first for me. It’s an experience I’d love to have again. Admittedly, the wait was long and the day tiring, but I have no regrets about having been part of it.”
Her words sum up well what we were able to experience. Yes, we waited a long time. Yes, the day was tiring. But how fortunate we were to have been able to experience such a moment! In the end, the tiredness paled in comparison to the joy of having been there, together, at the heart of this vast gathering. That day also allowed us to share a wonderful moment of communion. Communion amongst ourselves, with everyone present, but also with those who were unable to make the journey and whom we kept in our thoughts and prayers.
We leave with our minds full of memories and, above all, with something even deeper in our hearts: a renewed faith, greater hope and the joy of having shared this experience together.
A huge thank you to the Servants of the Poor, and particularly to our Sister Jeanne Maia, for enabling us to experience this exceptional day.
Thank you, Most Holy Father, for coming to meet us as a Father.
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