A busy schedule. Pope Francis will celebrate a giant mass on Saturday September 23 at the Vélodrome stadium. For his second day in Marseille, the sovereign pontiff began by meeting nuns who provide social assistance in a poor district of the city. In the morning, he must also speak with President Emmanuel Macron, who greeted him around 10 a.m., and stroll in a “papamobile” along Avenue du Prado later in the day. The complete program can be found on France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azue. Follow our live stream.
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A crowd of Catholics expected. Some 60,000 people are expected for the mass that the Pope is to celebrate at the Vélodrome stadium. Along the Prado, a large avenue now adorned with the yellow and white colors of the Vatican, and along which the Pope is to stroll, 100,000 other people are expected.
An important police force. Around 6,000 members of the police will be mobilized to secure the visit of Pope Francis, a “non-standard device”, according to a senior police officer. France 3 Paca takes stock of the precautions taken to welcome the sovereign pontiff.
Already a busy first day. After a time of prayer at Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, the Pope participated in a meditation with leaders of different faiths at the Memorial to Sailors and Migrants Missing at Sea. France 3 Paca summarizes this first day for you.