Six Young Men with Down Syndrome Serve Pope Leo XIV’s Mass in Paris

Paris, September 28, 2026: Six young men with Down syndrome served at Pope Leo XIV’s Mass at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, following a personal request made to the Pope.

A Letter That Became a Moment of Inclusion

The initiative began when 11-year-old Théophile, during an audience granted by Pope Leo to the Lejeune Foundation at the Vatican, presented him with a letter signed by the six young men. They asked for the privilege of serving at the Pope’s Mass during his visit to Paris.

The Pope accepted their request, creating a powerful public moment of inclusion within the Church’s liturgical life.

Serving at the Altar

Théophile was taught to serve Mass by Maxime, 22, who also has Down syndrome. Maxime serves as a thurifer at Saint-Marc parish in Bécon-les-Bruyères, north-west of Paris.

François, 28, the oldest of the group, serves Holy Mass daily at Saint-Augustin parish in Paris. They were joined by Foucauld, Timothée and Jérôme.

Their participation highlighted the important contribution that people with Down syndrome can make to the life of the Church when given the opportunity to serve.

Icíar De La Peña of Down España described the decision as “a beautiful gesture”, saying it demonstrated that people with Down syndrome can participate equally in society and in the Church. She also stressed that intellectual disability does not prevent people from having spiritual and religious convictions.

A Message of Dignity and Welcome

Lynn Murray of Don’t Screen Us Out said the Pope’s decision carried particular significance, describing it as a visible reminder that people with Down syndrome have the same value and dignity as everyone else.

She also highlighted the experiences of families following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, saying that some continue to encounter fear, negativity and low expectations.

The Catholic Church teaches that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. Its ministry therefore includes welcoming people with disabilities as full members of the Church and society.

A Faith Community Open to All

France is also home to the Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb, a religious community in Le Blanc that welcomes women with Down syndrome. The sisters follow the Rule of St. Benedict and the spirituality of St Thérèse of Lisieux.

The Mass at the Place de la Concorde was attended by an estimated 700,000 people, while pilgrims filled the Champs-Élysées to welcome Pope Leo XIV.

The celebration marked the conclusion of the Paris leg of his visit to France, before his journey continued to Lourdes and later Metz.

For the six young altar servers, however, the occasion carried a deeply personal meaning: they were not simply present at the Pope’s Mass — they were serving at the altar alongside the wider Church.

Courtesy : Thomas Edwards from Advaticanum