Pope Leo XIV on Saturday celebrated an open-air Mass in Paris attended by about 700,000 worshippers during his four-day visit to France.

The pontiff celebrated the service at Place de la Concorde after travelling through the Champs-Elysees in the popemobile, where large crowds gathered to welcome him.

The Vatican said around 700,000 people attended the Mass, with giant screens placed across the area to allow worshippers farther from the altar to follow the ceremony.

The gathering was the main event of the second day of Leo’s visit to France, his first official papal trip to the country.

Earlier in the day, Leo visited Maison Bakhita, an organisation that supports migrants and refugees. He said people could live together in dignity and peace while stressing the important role of women in building what he described as a “civilisation of love.”

The Pope’s visit has attracted large crowds despite France’s highly secular society. About 300,000 people reportedly gathered on Friday to see him as he travelled towards Notre Dame Cathedral.

During his visit, Leo has addressed several social issues, including migration, peace and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. He previously warned against excessive reliance on technology and called on France to remain committed to peace.

The Pope is scheduled to travel to Lourdes on Sunday, where he will meet seven survivors of clerical sexual abuse.

A 2021 investigation found that about 330,000 people had been abused as minors by clergy or lay members of the Catholic Church in France over seven decades.

Leo will conclude his France visit in Metz on Monday, where he is expected to deliver a speech focused on peace in Europe.