In Fractious France, Politicians Agree on One Thing: Pope Leo Was a Hit

When Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in Paris last weekend, he was driven past a crowd of 800,000 thronging the city’s grandest boulevard, Avenue des Champs-Élysées. It was a larger-than-expected turnout, illustrating that even in a secular society like France’s, there can be ample reservoirs of faith. But it was the row of French political notables seated in front of a temporary altar in the Place de la Concorde that made the occasion genuinely surprising. From France’s prime minister to five candidates for president, much of the French political establishment took part in the Catholic ceremony, a striking display of reverence from a country that jealously guards its secular identity. There were some notable absences: No candidate from the left attended the Mass, nor did President Emmanuel Macron, a centrist. But on Monday, Mr. Macron abruptly rearranged his schedule to take part in another of Leo’s Masses, in the northern city of Metz. Across the ideological spectrum, political leaders — even the no-shows — welcomed the pope’s visit and praised his message.

Some of Leo’s appeal, experts said, can be traced to the equivocal political moment in France. Eight months before a presidential election, the country lacks a popular political leader. Mr. Macron is a lame duck after nine years in office. His would-be successors have not captured the public imagination, with the possible exception of Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, who leads all rivals in polls. Even Ms. Le Pen is facing new headwinds, after a French media report that her protégé and party president, Jordan Bardella, sent antisemitic private messages more than a decade ago, when he was 17. He denied the accusation. The report landed shortly before the pope took off to return to Rome, dispelling the good vibes that prevailed during his four days in the country. To some analysts, Leo’s modest demeanor set him apart. In a country often jaded by its grandiloquent political class, they said, the pope’s serene smile, quiet manner and plain-spoken style lent him an authenticity that resonated with ordinary people.