'Pope fever' takes hold as Pope Leo visits France

France is gripped by "Pope fever." Since the 1905 French law on separating church and state, the country has embraced secular traditions. But over the next few days, the streets will tell a different story.

From Friday, Pope Leo XIV will spend four days in France , visiting Paris, Lourdes and Metz. All his public events have been sold out for weeks. Organizers expect around 1 million people to fill the streets of Paris on Saturday for a massive open-air mass at the Place de la Concorde.

"The pope is popular among both believers and nonbelievers," political scientist Olivier Roy told DW. He added that Leo XIV's conflict with US President Donald Trump in particular had lent him "a moral standing that extends far beyond the Catholic Church."

Massive crowds are expected for the pope's visit. Some 600,000 people who were able to get tickets will fill the entire Champs-Elysees, going right up to the Arc de Triomphe. Many more are expected to show up without tickets.

Authorities have announced that a number of metro stations will be closed. Across the city, churches have been draped with large portraits of the pope and Vatican flags. Security forces are gearing up for a major challenge.

With France's presidential election just over six months away, the visit comes at a delicate time. The left, Roy said, "appreciates Leo's personality but is skeptical about the state's involvement in organizing the reception."

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