On September 25, 80,000 young people gathered at the Stade de France for a vigil with Pope Léon XIV, an event that transformed the stadium into a "cathedral open to the sky" through the artistic direction of Jean-Baptiste Darantière. The event focused on the saints of France and the Christian heritage, aiming to unite the diverse group of attendees through shared spiritual experiences. Darantière, who was responsible for the design, artistic direction, and staging of the event, spoke about the challenges of transforming a sports stadium into a sacred space and the inspiration behind the event's themes. Darantière was approached by the Diocese of Paris to take charge of the artistic direction, creation, and evolution of the youth vigil. His initial idea was to sanctify the Stade de France, drawing inspiration from the rose window of Notre-Dame de Paris. This concept led to the use of WePixArena technology, which allowed participants to use their mobile phones to create light or display messages, forming a living stained glass effect. This idea became the foundation of the event's staging, including the depiction of saints, religious vocations, and pilgrimages. The vigil's narrative was built around the saints of France, chosen for their ability to resonate with the diverse group of young people present. Darantière emphasized the importance of highlighting the virtues of the saints, such as faith, hope, humility, and courage, which characterized different eras in French history. The show followed a chronological structure, moving through the history of the Church in France and ending with a return to the contemporary era, emphasizing the continuity of the saints' legacy. Darantière faced challenges in summarizing the thoughts and experiences of the saints within a short timeframe, as the show lasted only 18 minutes. Despite criticism for historical simplifications, he maintained that the focus was on the virtues and spiritual messages rather than historical accuracy. To create a spiritual and sacred atmosphere, Darantière chose to incorporate relics, including the Holy Tunic of Christ, which was venerated by Pope Léon XIV. This decision was made to enhance the spiritual significance of the event and to facilitate a transition into prayer. The presence of the relics was seen as a powerful element that elevated the show and allowed the audience to enter into a sacred space. The event was marked by several unforeseen challenges and moments of surprise, including a last-minute decision by the Pope to greet the crowd from the central stage. This spontaneous action required a quick response from the technical team to rearrange the stage and barriers, creating a memorable image of the Pope with the crowd. The vigil's impact extended beyond the 80,000 attendees, with reactions from across France and internationally. Darantière attributed this to the event's ability to touch on deeper themes, such as the thirst for discovering the history of the Church and responding to the questions of young people today. The Pope's spontaneous words, "You are the saints of France," were seen as a validation of the event's purpose and message.