Pope Leo Addresses 600,000 in Paris, Warns of AI's Future

Pope Leo drew a crowd of over 600,000 Catholics for an outdoor mass in Paris, marking a significant event in his four-day visit to France. The service, held on the Place de la Concorde, is expected to be the largest gathering during his trip.

Spectators began arriving before sunrise along the Champs-Élysées, hoping for a prime view of the pontiff as he traveled in an open-top popemobile. The visit aims to address the Church's standing in France, which has been impacted by abuse scandals.

Pope Leo is also scheduled to meet with victims of clergy abuse in Lourdes on Sunday. The pontiff previously spoke at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, cautioning that international organizations are facing a crisis. He also reiterated his concerns about the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, warning that it could lead to a future where machines dominate humanity.

Among those in the crowd, Geraldine Pambou, 42, expressed a hope that Pope Leo would speak out for peace, recalling his past criticisms of the U.S. war with Iran that drew a rebuke from then-President Donald Trump. "The most important thing is that he emphasizes world peace," Pambou stated. "There are too many wars."

Pierre-Marie Estienne, 36, attending the mass with his wife and four children, commented on the prevailing societal issues. "We live in an era of great materialism," he said. "There is a lot of evil around us, so we need a message of hope and love."

France, with its strict 1905 law separating church and state, is considered one of Europe's least religious countries, and the Catholic Church has seen a decline since World War II. Despite this trend, there has been a notable increase in adult baptisms, with 21,000 recorded last Easter.

However, Pope Leo cautioned against over-optimism regarding this growth. During a visit on Saturday with newly baptized Catholics at the Catholic University of Paris, he urged the French church not to be "naively optimistic." He emphasized the need to "recognize, welcome and protect the small flame that the Holy Spirit has kindled in the darkness of the night, the tiny seed that strives to grow even amid the thorns."