(LifeSiteNews) — Over 80,000 young people raised their voices and hearts to sing the Salve Regina in Latin with Pope Leo XIV during a prayer vigil at the French national stadium outside Paris.
The powerful moment occurred at the Stade de France, France’s largest stadium, normally reserved for international soccer and rugby games.
This is incredible. 80,000 young French Catholics sing the Salve Regina in Latin with Pope Leo XIV at a Prayer Vigil in the Stade de France. pic.twitter.com/AG5Il6N5GQ
— Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) September 25, 2026
The beautiful scene in France follows on the heels of an equally moving display in St. Louis, where 50,000 Catholics – including 1,000 priests, 90 bishops, and 800 seminarians – gathered for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
“Two of the biggest, most cinematic displays of Catholic vigor just took place in the last 24 hours, in the U.S. and in France, and people need to pay attention to this,” conservative commentator Peachy Keenan noted.
“A religious reawakening, and behind it, the green shoots of a cultural movement,” she suggested.
Two of the biggest, most cinematic displays of Catholic vigor just took place in the last 24 hours, in the U.S. and in France, and people need to pay attention to this. A religious reawakening, and behind it, the green shoots of a cultural movement. https://t.co/yVOjw15ugm
— Peachy Keenan (@KeenanPeachy) September 26, 2026
The young people’s prayer vigil offered proud reenactments of the history of the Catholic Church in France.
X account Catholic Sat reported: “At the Prayer Vigil with the young people of France, they reenact the incredible history of the Church of France, from the arrival of Lazarus and his sister Mary Magdalene, the martyrdom of St. Denis, the baptism of Clovis, the purchase of the Crown of Thorns of Our Lord by St. Louis IX, St. Joan of Arc, the countless Saints of the eldest daughter of the Church, the martyrs of the French Revolution, all the way to the great St. Thérèse of Lisieux.”
This is just incredible. The Pope is absolutely loving this.
At the Prayer Vigil with the young people of France, they reenact the incredible history of the Church of France, from the arrival of Lazarus and his sister Mary Magdalene, the martyrdom of St. Denis, the baptism of… pic.twitter.com/kelLpsoV98
— Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) September 25, 2026
Another Catholic news outlet reported that the vigil has caused a “meltdown” among forces opposed to Catholicism in France.
“Not only are Muslim associations predicting the revival of Catholicism, mainstream journalists are panicking,” Catholic Arena observed.
Pope Leo XIV’s INCREDIBLE youth vigil has caused a MELTDOWN in France
Not only are Muslim associations predicting the revival of Catholicism, mainstream journalists are PANICKING
Bernadette Sauvaget said on live tv that she is ‘SCARED by the enthusiasm’ and LASHED OUT at the… pic.twitter.com/9BDg2LD7jC
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) September 26, 2026