Around 300,000 people took to the streets of Paris to accompany the Pope, who took a tour between the UNESCO headquarters and Notre Dame Cathedral using the Papamobile, during the first day of his stay in France, which will last until Monday.
Concurrently, approximately 80,000 young people are preparing to receive Pope Leo XIV at the Stade de France, located on the outskirts of Paris. This event will consist of a vigil that will include music, testimonies, prayers, and the display of the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil, a relic associated with the Christian tradition of Jesus Christ.
The vigil, considered one of the highlights of Leo XIV's visit to France, is scheduled to begin around 9:00 PM (8:00 PM in Lisbon) and will feature performances by seven soloists and various French-speaking groups.
Stadium entrances, located 14 kilometers from Paris, opened at 5:00 PM local time (4:00 PM in Lisbon). The musical repertoire will include the duo Les Frangines, Franco-Malagasy singer Anisha Jo, and Tagra, a rapper with Christian inspiration.
Other confirmed artists include Les Guetteurs, a French Christian reggae group; 17-year-old Franco-American soprano Monroe; Grégory Turpin, a prominent figure in contemporary French Christian music; and Canadian singer Natasha St-Pier.
The event will officially begin with a parade of delegations, intended to illustrate the diversity of the Catholic Church present in France. Young people preparing for baptism, as well as priests, religious men and women, and pilgrims, will participate.
Testimonies from several young people will be accompanied by Christian 'pop' musicians and about 2,500 members of Ecclesia Cantic, a Catholic choir composed of young and adult members.
Leo XIV is expected to arrive at the stadium around 8:45 PM local time (7:45 PM in Lisbon). He will be greeted by the Bishop of Saint-Denis, Étienne Guillet, after touring the venue in the Papamobile before heading to the main tribune.
Next, there will be a moment where several young people can interact with the pontiff, asking questions and sharing their hopes and concerns, culminating in the central moment of prayer.
The narrative of the encounter will be guided by the history of saints linked to France, such as Saint Dionysius, recognized as the first bishop of Paris; Saint Martin of Tours; and Saint Vincent de Paul, known for his work with the needy.
A crucial point will be the exhibition of the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil during a period of contemplation. This relic, venerated as the seamless linen tunic worn by Christ on the way to Calvary, has been kept for 1,200 years in the Basilica of Saint-Denis de Argenteuil and is only shown to the public every fifty years.
Afterward, Leo XIV will give a reflection based on an excerpt from the First Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy.
The vigil will conclude around 11:00 PM local time (10:00 PM in Lisbon) with the celebration of Compline, the prayer that marks the end of the day in Catholic liturgical tradition.