Pope Leo XIV recently addressed hundreds of thousands of young people, urging them to embrace courageous choices for good during the Jubilee of Youth, a key event of the Vatican’s 2025 Holy Year. The encounter took place at the Tor Vergata field on Rome’s outskirts, where pilgrims from approximately 150 countries had camped out, enduring high temperatures that required cooling measures like misting trucks.
Speaking in Spanish, Italian, and English, Leo emphasized the importance of true friendship, cautioned against the perils of social media, and encouraged radical life choices such as marriage or religious vocations. He declared, “Friendship can really change the world. Friendship is a path to peace,” highlighting the need for “missionaries of the Gospel who are witnesses of justice and peace!”
Amidst the celebration, Leo somberly announced the deaths of two young pilgrims and the hospitalization of another, reportedly due to cardiac arrest. The vigil service preceded a morning Mass led by Leo, marking the culmination of the youth Jubilee.
Over the past week, Rome has been filled with young Catholics participating in their special Jubilee celebration, part of a Holy Year expected to draw 32 million people to the Vatican for a pilgrimage tradition spanning centuries. The city’s cobblestone streets echoed with the sounds of Rosary prayers and hymns, accompanied by guitars, bongo drums, and tambourines. Christian rock concerts and inspirational talks filled piazzas, while long queues formed at the Circus Maximus, where 1,000 priests offered confession in multiple languages.
Francisco Michel, a pilgrim from Mexico, described the experience as “something spiritual, that you can experience only every 25 years,” adding, “As a young person, having the chance to live this meeting with the pope I feel it is a spiritual growth.”
The event resembled a World Youth Day, reminiscent of the Catholic Woodstock festival initiated by St. John Paul II in Rome in 2000, also at Tor Vergata. During that event, John Paul addressed an estimated 2 million young people, calling them the “sentinels of the morning” at the dawn of the third millennium.
While officials initially anticipated 500,000 attendees, Leo and organizers suggested the number might reach 1 million. A final estimate from the Vatican is pending.
Despite some logistical challenges, such as long waits for food and lengthy commutes, participants like Chloe Jobbour, a 19-year-old Lebanese Catholic, embraced the experience. “It’s a bit messed up, but this is what is nice about the Jubilee,” she noted, highlighting the sense of community and shared faith.
The influx of young people has also impacted Rome residents. Some have experienced inconveniences due to overcrowded public transportation, leading to occasional frustrations. However, others have welcomed the enthusiasm and energy brought by the pilgrims. Premier Giorgia Meloni offered a video message, praising the event as an “extraordinary festival of faith, joy and hope.”
Rome hairdresser Rina Verdone, who lives near the Tor Vergata field, expressed her positive outlook, stating, “I think it’s marvelous.” She acknowledged the inconvenience of altered travel routes but considered it a worthwhile sacrifice. “You think of invasion as something negative. But this is a positive invasion,” she concluded, reflecting the overall sentiment of many Romans.
