Portugal Colonial - Huge crowds cheer Pope Leo along Champs-Elysees ahead of Paris mass

Aboard the popemobile, the smiling pontiff blessed several babies and waved to worshippers, as he made his way from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, where a giant white canopy was installed.

Dozens of giant screens lined the more than two-kilometre stretch.

Clutching small French and Vatican flags, crowds gathered in anticipation ahead of the service, with the city centre sealed off, helicopters circling overhead and snipers positioned on rooftops.

The service, the centrepiece of the second day of the pontiff's four-day visit to France, was due to begin at 3:00 pm (1300 GMT), with around 600,000 worshippers expected to attend.

Parents arrived with pushchairs or children perched on their shoulders as believers hoped to catch a glimpse of the pontiff on the second day of the first official papal visit to France in nearly two decades.

Near the stage at Place de la Concorde a number of politicians took their seats, including far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella.

President Emmanuel Macron was not expected to attend the mass and would be represented by his wife Brigitte.

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J.V.Jacinto--PC