Pope Leo in Paris: God quenches the thirst in every human heart

Crowds line the streets of Paris as the Pope arrives at the Place de la Concorde for the celebration of Holy Mass (@Vatican Media)

Source: Vatican Media

Jesus Christ is the source of living water that quenches our thirst, Pope Leo XIV said in his homily during Mass on the second day of his Apostolic Journey to France.

Addressing a vast crowd of around 700,000 people in the Place de la Concorde in the heart of Paris, Pope Leo said "the desire for God dwells deep in our hearts… and it is Jesus Christ, through His Incarnation, who comes to meet every human person in the midst of his or her own story, and reveals Himself as the true source of the living water capable of quenching our thirst."

The Pope was reflecting on the readings for the Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fountain of Salvation, which refer continually to the image of living water.

The water flowing from the Temple in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel is seen in John's Gospel as the water flowing from the pierced side of Christ allowing us to be born anew as children of God.

It is Jesus Christ, he said, following Saint Augustine, that offers happiness and peace to our restless hearts, that reveals the unconditional love God has for each and every human person.

"Seeing you gathered here," Pope Leo said, "the heirs of France's long and beautiful history of faith, I say to you: Drink from the source that is the pierced heart of Jesus," who alone can quench our thirst for God, life, truth, unity, peace, communion, and happiness."

At the same time, he invited French Catholics not to keep their faith in Jesus to themselves, but to share it with all those they meet, so that they, too, "might be refreshed and satisfied."

He recalled the long line of French witnesses to the faith, saints such as Irenaeus, Martin, and Francis de Sales, as well as the many people who, "even today… continue to devote themselves to the cause of life, the family, truth, peace, fraternity and justice."

The Holy Father said he prays "fervently" that from Paris, "the living water of the Holy Spirit may flow throughout France."

And he offered special thanks to families, young people, and catechumens and new Christians for their witness to faith in an increasingly secularized society.

Read the full text of Pope Leo's homily: www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/homilies/2026/documents/20260926-francia-messa-parigi.html

Watch the Mass on Vatican Media's Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRsr9Ih7HHU