Joan of Arc made a particularly striking appearance during Pope Leo XIV’s vigil, arriving on horseback alongside other saints and figures connected to France’s Christian history. The scene evoked the traditional image of the French saint as a young warrior on horseback, recalling her role in the country’s history and her deep connection to the Catholic tradition of France.
Other saints and figures from French history also appeared, including Saint Louis IX, King of France, portrayed carrying the Crown of Thorns. The scene referred to the relic brought to Paris by the king in the 13th century and now preserved at Notre-Dame. Together, these figures turned the vigil into a symbolic journey through France’s Christian heritage, in front of the thousands of young people gathered to accompany the Pope.
