Pope Leo XIV leads 80,000 youth in prayer vigil at Stade de France

Pope Leo XIV led a prayer vigil for approximately 80,000 young people at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sept. 25. During the event, which was part of his four-day apostolic journey to France, the pope encouraged the attendees to pursue holiness, peace, and a living relationship with Jesus.

The gathering included non-Christian students from Catholic schools in the Diocese of Saint-Denis who attended at the invitation of their local schools. Addressing the crowd, the pope noted that true freedom comes from a relationship with Jesus rather than through worldly means. He urged the youth to move from indifference toward a commitment to justice and to seek a conversion that provides meaning to their lives.

The vigil took place in a diverse area where the Diocese of Saint-Denis serves about 22,000 practicing Catholics from many different immigrant backgrounds. During a dialogue session, the pope also encouraged the young people to fight against divisive powers and to find peace by forgiving themselves for their anxieties and uncertainties.