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Pope Leo XIV presided over a final mass on Sunday for more than one million young people, marking the culmination of the Vatican's week-long "Jubilee of Youth" - one of the central events of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year.
“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less,” the pope urged during his homily, addressing the global crowd gathered on the eastern outskirts of Rome.
The event, which drew young pilgrims from 146 countries, began on Monday and transformed Rome into a vibrant hub of prayer, song, and celebration. The Vatican estimated that over 500,000 pilgrims were in the city for much of the week. That number swelled to 800,000 on Saturday night for a twilight vigil led by the pope, and reached one million by Sunday morning, according to Vatican officials.
Many of the faithful camped overnight in tents, sleeping bags, or on mats in anticipation of the concluding mass. Among them was Christofer Delano from New York, who expressed awe at the scale of the gathering. “I knew there was going to be a lot of people - I didn’t know it would be this many,” he told AFP.
The 69-year-old pontiff - the first American pope and a former missionary - called on the youth to become ambassadors of faith: “Spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith to everyone you meet!”
In his Angelus prayer, Pope Leo also drew attention to the suffering of young people in conflict zones, emphasizing solidarity with “those who suffer the gravest injustices inflicted by others.”
“We are with the young people of Gaza, of Ukraine, and every land bloodied by war,” he said. “You are the sign that a different world is possible - one of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are resolved not with weapons but with dialogue.”
A Catholic 'Woodstock'
The massive open-air liturgy, held at Tor Vergata - a field spanning 500,000 square meters, or roughly 70 football fields - was accompanied by a choir and attended by about 450 bishops and 700 priests, all robed in green. A towering cross rose above the golden stage canopy where the pope celebrated mass.
Italian broadcaster RAI dubbed the event a Catholic “Woodstock,” as young pilgrims strummed guitars, waved national flags, and sang along with religious bands performing throughout the night. The festive atmosphere peaked during Saturday’s vigil, with Pope Leo’s arrival by helicopter met with deafening cheers and applause. Roads leading to the venue were jammed, prompting the pope to use a helicopter for both weekend appearances.
British student Andy Hewellyn, seated in front of a giant video screen far from the main stage, expressed joy despite the distance: “I’m so happy to be here, even if I’m a bit far from the pope. The main thing is that we’re all together.”
A New Chapter for Catholic Youth
The "Jubilee of Youth" marks a significant early milestone in Pope Leo’s papacy, which began just three months ago. It also commemorates the 25th anniversary of the last youth jubilee held in Rome, initiated by Saint John Paul II. The event was first announced by Pope Francis during World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023.
Throughout the week, the Church hosted numerous activities for pilgrims, including transforming Rome’s historic Circus Maximus - once a venue for chariot races - into an open-air confessional.
Reflecting on the week, Italian pilgrim Tommaso Benedetti said the pope had “passed his first test” in the eyes of the youth. “There were many references to peace, which is a theme that’s very close to our hearts,” he said.
The jubilee concludes a landmark week of celebration, solidarity, and spiritual renewal - one that, for many, will resonate for a lifetime.
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