Figure caption, Watch: Huge crowds greeted the Pope as he travelled down the Champs-ÉlyséesByJacob PhillipsPope Leo XIV has praised the "enthusiasm, energy and commitment" young people bring to the Catholic Church as dense crowds attended an open-air Mass in Paris. An estimated 700,000 people had gathered for the Mass celebrated by the Pope from a special altar on the Place de la Concorde, on the second day of his four-day visit to France.

It began after the pontiff rode down the Champs-Élysées Avenue waving to crowds from his open-topped popemobile. Many senior politicians attended the Mass.

On Friday, the Pope met French President Emmanuel Macron. The leader of the Catholic Church also addressed young people in his speech, describing them as "today's Church"."

How beautiful it is to see your enthusiasm, energy and commitment, and the joy you bring to Christian communities," he said. Image source, ReutersAfter being welcomed by Macron on Friday, the Pope was joined by 80,000 young people at the Stade de France in northern Paris.

Macron did not attend Saturday's event and will not be at any of the Pope's Masses during his visit, largely to avoid appearing to breach France's strict rules on the separation of Church and state. But the Mass was attended by Macron's wife Brigitte and French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

Several candidates for next year's presidential election also attended. Marine Le Pen of the hard-right National Rally party and conservative Bruno Retailleau were both pictured at the Place de la Concorde ahead of the event, while centrists Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal were also spotted.

The Pope issued a warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) at the start of his visit to France on Friday. Leo cautioned against "losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines" in wide-ranging remarks to Church and state officials at the Élysée Palace.

Large crowds are expected throughout the remainder of the pontiff's trip, which the Church believes reflects a growing spirituality among the French and other Europeans. Image gallerySkip image galleryImage source, EPA/ShutterstockImage caption, Dense crowds turned out to catch a glimpse of the Pope ahead of the MassSlide 1 of 6, The pope can be seen in the centre of his popemobile.

Champs-Élysées Avenue stretches out behind him and the Arc de Triomphe can be seen in the background. , Dense crowds turned out to catch a glimpse of the Pope ahead of the MassLate on Saturday the Pope flew to south-western town of Lourdes.