Pope Leo XIV Prays in Rebuilt Notre Dame and Challenges French Catholics
Pope Leo XIV became the first pontiff to visit Notre Dame Cathedral after its reconstruction, praying Vespers and challenging French Catholics to be reborn with the cathedral in a new impetus for holiness.
TL;DR
- Pope Leo XIV visited the rebuilt Notre Dame Cathedral, the first pope to do so since the 2019 fire.
- He prayed Vespers and delivered a homily, reflecting on the cathedral's symbolism and its role in faith.
- The Pope encouraged French clergy and religious to embrace a "new impetus towards holiness and daily mission."
- His visit occurred as the French Catholic Church sees a rise in adult and teen baptisms, though the country remains increasingly secular.
- Approximately 300,000 people lined the streets to greet the Pope.
- The Pope emphasized that the cathedral, like any church, is meant for prayer and worship, and "lives by the sacred mystery celebrated within it."