Notre Dame hosted its first papal visit since the 2019 fire as Leo addressed about 2,500 people inside and roughly 5,000 outside during vespers in Paris.
Leo used the restored cathedral to press Pope Francis' vision of a more welcoming, missionary church, urging French clergy to prioritize "Evangelii Gaudium" and elevate lay Catholics' role.
The Vatican kept the visit pastoral rather than political, declining Emmanuel Macron's request for a private tour after criticism that Notre Dame's 2024 reopening had become a government showcase.
The stop also highlighted Leo's more Europe-facing style: unlike Francis, he embraced a Paris visit and will spend 2 of his 4 days in France at Lourdes, which draws about 3 million pilgrims a year.