The Pope’s arrival in Paris was met with a spectacle usually reserved for pop stars, as an estimated 700,000 people gathered on the Avenue des Champs‑Élysées to welcome Leo XIV. The open‑top popemobile paused frequently, allowing the pontiff to bless babies, children and people with disabilities, while chants of “Leo, Leo” and “Long live the Pope” echoed down the boulevard.
A year earlier, Rome had seen a similar swell of young people when the Church canonised 15‑year‑old Carlo Acutis, a British‑Italian computer enthusiast who used the internet to spread Catholicism. The event was seen as a symbolic step toward a church that embraces digital media and offers new role models for the younger generation.
Pope Leo, who was elected in May 2025, has drawn large crowds of youth worldwide. Assistant editor Ruth Gledhill of The Tablet noted that, despite being 70, the Pope exudes youthful vigor, is fit and appears devoid of ego. Vatican Media’s deputy director Alessandro Gisotti highlighted that Leo is the first pope who used social media before his election, a development that makes the Church’s communication more appealing to younger audiences. The pontiff’s casual interests – from playing Wordle with his brother to using Duolingo and enjoying sports such as baseball – have helped him connect with ordinary Catholics.
However, the Church remains cautious. INSEE data shows only 25 % of French adults aged 18‑49 identify as Catholic, down from 43 % a decade earlier. During a visit to the Catholic University of Paris with newly baptised students, Leo warned the French church not to be “naively optimistic” about the modest increase in adherents, urging them to nurture the small flame of faith that continues to grow amid challenges.
