It was undoubtedly the largest gathering of the pope’s visit to Paris. On Saturday, September 26, 2026, Leo XIV celebrated a solemn outdoor Mass in Place de la Concorde and along Avenue des Champs-Élysées, in the 8th arrondissement. The event was scheduled for 3 p.m., with several hundred thousand people expected along the famous avenue.
The celebration was one of the major highlights of the pontiff’s visit to Paris. The day before, Leo XIV rode through the capital’s streets in the popemobile, celebrated vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris and met young people at a large vigil at the Stade de France.
To accommodate the crowd, the celebration was spread across several areas between Place de la Concorde and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Most attendees were able to attend the Mass standing up, although specific arrangements were made for people with disabilities or other special needs.
In response to the large turnout, the organizers also obtained permission to open an overflow area at Place de l'Étoile and along Avenue de la Grande Armée, within a secure perimeter. The decision was announced as registrations approached 600,000 participants.
The service was free and open to everyone. Online registration was recommended to help with organization and crowd management, but it did not function like a conventional ticketing system.
Although Mass began at 3 p.m., people needed to plan to arrive well in advance. Several hundred thousand people were expected, with security checks and extensive arrangements to welcome them around Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées.
The Mass was free and open to everyone. Registration had closed. However, it was neither a ticket nor a seat reservation: people who had not registered could still attend the celebration, subject to capacity limits and security guidelines.
As for the schedule, here’s the lineup:
The timings are the same for registered and unregistered attendees. Organizers recommended allowing plenty of extra time for the walk to the entrance and for security checks.
Are you headed to the Pope’s Mass today? Here are the transport options you should consider to reach the Champs-Élysées.
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Several access points with security screening provided access to the different areas set up along the Champs-Élysées and around Concorde. Participants were directed to a designated area to better distribute the crowds, and they could be advised to use a particular arrival station depending on that area. Volunteers are on hand to guide the public to the corresponding entrances.
All bags were checked at the entrance. Small bags and backpacks under 25 liters were allowed, but no storage facilities were available on site. It was therefore best to travel light.
including authorized:
Bottles and water bottles are limited to 1.5 litres. No food will be sold on site.
in particular prohibited :
Anyone refusing to part with a prohibited item could be denied entry.
Traffic and parking restrictions were planned around Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées for the Mass. Several metro stations were also closed or disrupted.
Getting around by car in central Paris is shaping up to be difficult today. Several routes around the Concorde, the Champs-Élysées, and the 7th arrondissement are closed or heavily restricted for the Pope’s mass. [Read more]
Public transport is disrupted today around Concorde, the Champs-Élysées, and the 7th arrondissement. Subways closed, buses diverted or stops suspended: here’s what you need to know before you head out. [Read more]
Are you headed to the Pope’s Mass today? Here are the transport options you should consider to reach the Champs-Élysées.
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