Thousands turn out to greet Pope Leo XIV during visit to France

Thousands of people have turned out across France to greet Pope Leo XIV during his visit to the country, in scenes that have drawn attention to the level of public enthusiasm surrounding the trip.

The Catholic Church has attributed the size and warmth of the welcome to what it describes as a period of growing spirituality among the French public, a country often associated with declining religious observance in recent decades.

The turnout has prompted commentary on whether the visit reflects a broader shift in attitudes toward faith and the Church in France, or whether it is primarily driven by interest in the pope himself and the events organised around his visit. Observers following the trip have pointed to the mix of younger attendees among the crowds as a notable feature of the visit.

Further stops on the pope's itinerary in France, and the scale of turnout expected at subsequent events, were not detailed in the immediate coverage of the visit.

The visit continues to draw significant public and media attention as it proceeds.