In Marseille, the Vélodrome stadium is preparing to be transformed into an open-air cathedral: a huge mass will be celebrated there on Saturday September 23 by Pope Francis, to end his two-day visit to the city.
A papal mass in front of 57,000 faithful: the event that the Vélodrome will host on Saturday, September 23, constitutes a real logistical challenge, especially since the stadium will host the France-Namibia match of the Rugby World Cup… only 48 hours ago.
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From the final whistle of the match, more than 300 technicians will work night and day to prepare the Pope’s high mass: “It’s really an anthill that’s about to start, smiles Martin d’Argenlieu, director of Mars 360, operator of the stadium. We install the entire stage system for the pope, with the altar, in the north bend. A large cross eight meters high will be erected. The entire public will be distributed in the different stands, also on the pitch with special protective plates. We made a whole bunch of traffic plans. It is a challenge for the diocese to be able to bring nearly 60,000 people to communion during this mass.”
The mass will cost more than a million euros
You have to imagine that all the faithful will get up from the stands at the same time to take the host… “There are 70 000 hosts awaiting the faithful, and the Pope’s host : a ‘spéclae Vélodrome’ host, which must be able to be seen from the entire stadiumexplains Father Romain Louge, who coordinates the organization of the mass. The collection will not be done during the mass, because that would require too much logistics. It will be made at the entrance, via a payment terminal which will allow pilgrims to pay with their credit card or their smartphone. The diocese is counting on donations, because the mass will cost it more than a million euros.
But it’s a chance to hold this mass at the Vélodrome, “usual place of communion”, smiled Father Louge. OM supporters were also invited by the diocese to welcome the Pope: “We must receive him and pay tribute to him, thank him for choosing our city and our stadium”says Rachid Zeroual, leader of the “South Winners” supporters group.
“When he goes around the lawn in a popemobile to greet everyone, as soon as he enters, he will have a surprise.”
Rachid Zeroual, president of the “South Winners”at franceinfo
A surprise as the pope seems to have appreciated the photos shown by the diocese, of a huge banner with the image of the “good mother”, which was displayed by OM supporters during a match against PSG .
The Vélodrome stadium in Marseille is preparing for the Pope’s mass: report by Mathilde Vinceneux