Pope Leo XIV draws nearly 80,000 to Stade de France, calls for faith "without violence or contempt"

Pope Leo XIV addressed a crowd of nearly 80,000 people at the Stade de France on Friday, telling the young audience that religious conviction must be defended without recourse to "the weapons of violence, contempt or oppression."

The stadium, on the outskirts of Paris, was filled with young people who greeted the head of the Catholic Church with an enthusiasm often compared to that reserved for major public figures. Attendees came from a wide range of backgrounds and religious sensibilities, united for the evening by a shared desire to take part in the gathering.

A message of peaceful conviction

In his remarks, the pope framed the practice of faith as a kind of struggle, but one that must be waged through peaceful means rather than force or exclusion. The message was delivered against a backdrop of ongoing global debates over religious tolerance and the role of faith communities in public life.

The visit forms part of a broader papal trip to France, during which Leo XIV has sought to engage directly with young Catholics and address contemporary questions facing the church. Organizers and attendees described the event as a rare moment of large-scale communal gathering, drawing participants who did not necessarily share the same religious views but wanted to be part of the occasion.