Paris, Sep 25 (EFE).- From Boulevard Saint-Michel, just steps from Notre-Dame, 32-year-old Sarah gently cradles her three-month-old daughter.
The Parisian was among the first to arrive along the final stretch of Pope Leo XIV’s route on Friday, hoping for one thing above all: a blessing for baby Astrid.
“I wanted to be as close as possible to the Pope,” Sarah told EFE, standing beside her friend Perrine, also 32.
The two women entered the secured area on Boulevard Saint-Michel as soon as the gates opened at noon.
They waited patiently behind the safety barriers, keeping Astrid in the shade as temperatures in Paris climbed toward 30 degrees C.
The pontiff was expected to pass within a few meters of them in his popemobile on his way to Notre-Dame.
“It’s a historic moment. The Pope doesn’t visit France every day, and even less Paris, the last visit was in 2008. It’s a moment of communion, of everyone coming together to see him,” Sarah said.
Perrine, who was baptized as a teenager, said standing so close to the Pope was “also part” of her own spiritual journey.
A city under tight security
Getting close to the Pope required patience. Several metro stations were closed, streets along the Seine sealed off, and hundreds of police officers were directing tourists and commuters through the restricted perimeter around Notre-Dame.
Dozens of volunteers helped manage the crowds. Wearing bright yellow T-shirts printed with the motto of Leo XIV’s visit, Pour que le monde ait la vie (“So that the world may have life”), a phrase from the Gospel of John, they guided pilgrims and handed out Vatican flags.
“We’ve been preparing this procession for more than a month, receiving instructions and learning our exact roles,” Enguerrand, one of the volunteer coordinators, told EFE.
The volunteer, who traveled from Lyon, kept a constant eye on his walkie-talkie while coordinating with colleagues.
“Prayer plays a fundamental role. We have to prepare our hearts and experience the joy of welcoming the Pope to France,” he said.
Peruvian flags in the front row
A few meters away, Silvia Cuevas beamed as she waved a Peruvian flag. The Peruvian national, who has lived in France for years, proudly said she was among the first to secure a place in the front row.
“I just hope he sees us. We know the Pope has great affection for Peru, so we brought our flag. A greeting or even a glance from him would mean so much, but simply seeing him is already important,” she told EFE.
Accompanied by two friends, Cuevas recalled Leo XIV’s deep ties to Peru, where he acquired citizenship and spent more than three decades living and working, including in the northern city of Chiclayo.
“He knows the reality of my country in a way perhaps other popes never did, because he lived there. I feel he understands us and brings hope and faith,” she said. EFE
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