Why did 700,000 people turn out for Pope Leo in secular France? | DW News

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Pope Leo XIV has drawn an estimated 700,000 people to an open-air Mass in the heart of Paris, an extraordinary turnout in a country where Catholic affiliation has been declining for decades. Crowds packed the Champs-Élysées as the pope travelled by popemobile to Place de la Concorde, a location closely associated with the French Republic and one that has also prompted debate in a country with a strict tradition of secularism. During his four-day visit, Pope Leo has addressed war, the crisis facing international diplomacy and the risks posed by artificial intelligence. His trip also comes as the Catholic Church in France continues to confront the fallout from revelations of widespread clergy sexual abuse. So what does the huge turnout tell us about Catholicism in modern France? And does Pope Leo's appeal extend beyond practicing Catholics? DW correspondent Lisa Louis reports from Paris. Chapter Breakdown 00:00 Pope Leo draws huge crowds in secular France 00:28 Lisa Louis, DW Correspond

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