The Vibe in Paris

If you were anywhere near the Champs-Élysées today, you definitely felt the energy. Hundreds of thousands of people turned out to catch a glimpse of Pope Leo XIV as he cruised down the iconic avenue in his popemobile. The crowd was giving major main character energy, chanting "Leo, Leo" as he made his way toward the Place de la Concorde, where a massive altar is set for an open-air Mass.

The Guest List

It’s a bit of a political star-studded event. While French President Emmanuel Macron is skipping the Masses to keep things strictly separate between state and religion—following his private hour-long meeting with the Pope on Friday—other heavy hitters are showing up. Macron’s wife, Brigitte, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu are in attendance, along with a lineup of potential future presidential candidates including Marine Le Pen, Bruno Retailleau, Edouard Philippe, and Gabriel Attal.

The Mission

Before the big ceremony, the Pope stopped by the Maison Bakhita center to hang with migrants. He praised the org for shedding light on "those who are invisible" and dropped some truth about the need for dignity and peace in our daily interactions. He also made a point to highlight that women play a foundational role in "building a civilisation of love."

Real talk, though—the Pope isn't just here for the photo ops. He kicked off his trip on Friday with a pretty heavy warning about AI. He cautioned everyone about the risk of "losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines," which is a mood, honestly.

Looking Ahead

This trip is lowkey a massive tour. After Paris, he’s headed to Lourdes, where 150,000 people are already signed up to see him. On Monday, he’ll be in Metz to pay respects to Robert Schuman, one of the OGs of the European Union.

Why it matters

For a guy born Robert Prevost in Chicago, this homecoming-adjacent tour is a big deal for the Church, which claims to see a resurgence in spirituality across France and Europe. Whether it’s the political optics or his stance on tech, Leo XIV is making sure his voice carries through the noise.