Our correspondent Charlotte de Vilmorin attended the vespers at Notre-Dame de Paris on September 25, presided over by Pope Léon XIV, with priests, religious, nuns, and consecrated persons. She described the event as one that touched her heart, resonating with her life choice and offering an unexpected grace. On Friday, September 25, a gathering of priests, deacons, religious and nuns, seminarians and consecrated persons from across France assembled for the vespers. The Pope had just left the Unesco and was en route back to the steps of Notre-Dame-des-Champs in the papamobile. Attendees were seated in the nave and on the steps in a silence somewhat dulled by a long wait, unsure if they were praying, watching, or falling asleep. A rumor spread, followed by the joyful clamor of the streets as the Pope approached. The joy was tangible, and the moment was described as a real encounter, with the Pope coming to encourage those present in their vocations. In his homily, Pope Léon XIV spoke of the cathedral, noting that "the simple fact of entering it puts us face to face with a beauty that speaks to our anxious hearts and calls them to peace." He emphasized that this beauty is not earned or reserved for anyone, but is accessible to all by simply opening a door. He also recalled that Christ did not wait for the world to be ready to come to it, and similarly, people are not dispensed from inhabiting their own world, with its fractures, while keeping hope. He described a Church "called to always be 'going out'" and quoted, "The Christian community does not constitute a refuge in which one would retreat to protect oneself from one's era. On the contrary, it offers itself, like the old cathedrals, as a space of welcome, respect, revelation, and meaning for all." The Pope emphasized that grace allows "inner freedom and simplicity of life," a message that resonated at a time when everything sometimes seems complicated. He also spoke of the "friendship desired by Jesus," concluding with a quote from Madeleine Delbrêl: "Without prayer, we would not love the God of love. We may be his servants, his fighters, or even his disciples; but we would neither be the beloved children of our Father, nor the friends [...] of Jesus Christ." Following the vespers, Charlotte de Vilmorin wished to leave quickly, anticipating the crowd on the steps and the difficulty of finding her car. However, she was unable to leave as the Pope remained in the cathedral. She eventually saw him approach and greet her, blessing her on the forehead. She reflected that this experience offered a lesson for those who always want to leave quickly, noting that some graces are only received by taking the time to stay.