Huge crowds greet Pope in Paris ahead of open-air Mass

Image source, Reuters By Jacob Phillips Published 9 minutes ago Hundreds of thousands of people have greeted Pope Leo XIV in the centre of Paris ahead of a giant open-air Mass.

Crowds cheered as the pontiff moved down the Champs-Élysées Avenue beneath the Arc de Triomphe, waving to crowds from his popemobile.

The head of the Catholic Church blessed several babies as he stopped at different stages along the avenue as chants of "Leo, Leo" rang out.

More than half a million people are expected to attend the event in the heart of the French capital on Saturday and a special altar has been built on the Place de la Concorde for the ceremony.

Image source, Reuters Image caption, Thousands have gathered along Champs-Elysees Avenue ahead of Pope Leo's open-air Mass