Pope Leo XIV tells young Catholics they are the 'Church of today' at Paris Mass

Pope Leo XIV celebrated a large-scale Mass at the Place de la Concorde in Paris on Saturday, using the occasion to speak directly to the young Catholics in attendance. In his address, the pontiff described the young people present not as the future of the Church, but as its present, calling them the "Church of today."

Engaging young believers was a central theme of the pope's visit to the French capital. The day before the Mass, on Friday, Pope Leo XIV took part in a youth vigil held at the Stade de France, a gathering specifically aimed at connecting with younger members of the Catholic community.

Taken together, the Friday vigil and Saturday's Mass at the Place de la Concorde formed the core public events of the pope's outreach to youth during his time in Paris. Large crowds gathered at the square for the Mass, one of the visit's major moments.

The pope's emphasis on young Catholics comes as the Church continues efforts to strengthen ties with younger generations across Europe, where religious participation has been declining in many countries. By directly addressing youth and affirming their present role in the Church rather than framing them solely as its future, the pope placed young believers at the center of his message during the Paris visit.