Celebrity
Papamania in Paris: The Pope Welcomed Like a Rock Star in France
Pope Leo XIV was greeted by enthusiastic crowds in Paris on Saturday, drawing comparisons to a rock star despite declining Catholic numbers in France. The visit included a mass at Place de la Concorde attended by nearly 800,000 people and a meeting with 80,000 youth. While overall Catholic baptisms are falling, adult baptisms among those under 25 have risen to over 21,000 last year. The Pope criticized French secularism and recent assisted dying laws, advocating for religious diversity. President Emmanuel Macron did not attend the mass but was represented by his wife, while various politicians joined the faithful.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's