–Leo, who arrived by helicopter and Pope mobile to cheers and applause, used his closing blessing to remember the young people of Gaza and Ukraine and other warring countries who could not join their celebration.
Pope greeted by vast crowd at Catholic youth event
We are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils, which are caused by other human beings,” Leo said. “We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of
Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war.”
“My young brothers and sisters, you are the sign that a different world is possible. A world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are not resolved with weapons, but with dialogue.”
Later, he told them to: “Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less
Pope’s ‘Jubilee of Youth’ ends with mass for 1 million
Faithful from across the world gathered in Rome for the week-long festival for young people. One of the highlights was a concert dubbed the Catholic “Woodstock.”
Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives before a mass to mark the Jubilee of Youth, in the Tor Vergata district of Rome, Italy, on August 3, 2025
Pope Leo XIV arrived by helicopter and
Young people from nearly 150 countries celebrated Mass on Sunday with Pope Leo XIV at the end of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Youth in Italy.
The Vatican said more than a million youth took part in the huge event in a vast open space at Rome’s University of Tor Vergata.
Pope Leo XIV leads a mass as part of the Jubilee of Youth in the Tor Vergata district of Rome, Italy, on August 3, 2025Pope Leo XIV leads a mass as part of the Jubilee of Youth in the Tor Vergata district of Rome, Italy, on August 3, 2025
Rome’s University of Tor Vergata has vast open spaces for events like Jubilee of Youth
What did the pope say?
Leo, who arrived by helicopter and popemobile to cheers and applause, used his closing blessing to remember the young people of Gaza and Ukraine and other warring countries who could not join their celebration.
“We are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils, which are caused by other human beings,” Leo said. “We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of
Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war.”
“My young brothers and sisters, you are the sign that a different world is possible. A world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are not resolved with weapons, but with dialogue.”
Later, he told them to: “Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less.”
The Catholic faithful gather for a prayer vigil presided over by Pope Leo XIV for the Youth Jubilee, in Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, on August 2, 2025The Catholic faithful gather for a prayer vigil presided over by Pope Leo XIV for the Youth Jubilee, in Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, on August 2, 2025
Rome has been awash with young Catholic faithful over the past weekImage: Asquini Claudio/Catholic Press Photo/ipa-agency/picture alliance
What is the Jubilee of Youth?
The week-long Jubilee of Youth is a highlight of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee or Holy Year of forgiveness and pilgrimage, which runs until January.
The event drew half a million young pilgrims over the past week, most of them camping out in tents, sleeping bags, or on mats in the sprawling fields southeast of Rome.
Sunday’s colourful mass was accompanied by music from a choir and about 450 bishops and 700 priests, all in green robes.
A towering cross dominated the massive golden arch covering the stage where the pope led the proceedings.
On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people watched a concert by religious bands, dubbed the Catholic “Woodstock,” attended by the pope.
Another highlight was turning the Circus Maximus — where chariot races were held in ancient Rome — into an open-air confessional.
Pope Leo XIV presiding over the mass outside Rome on Sunday, a highlight of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year – Copyright AFP Jack GUEZ
Pope Leo XIV presided over a final mass in Rome for over one million young people on Sunday, the culmination of a youth pilgrimage that has drawn Catholics from across the world.
The week-long event ending Sunday, a highlight of the Jubilee holy year, was an enormous undertaking for the Vatican, with a half a million young pilgrims in Rome for most of the week.
On Saturday night, before an twilight vigil led by the pope, organisers had confirmed the attendance of 800,000 people in the vast, open-air space on Rome’s eastern outskirts, and on Sunday the Vatican said that number had grown to one million people.
Most of those attending slept on the ground overnight in tents, in sleeping bags or or mats in anticipation of Sunday’s mass.
“There is a burning question in our hearts, a need for truth that we cannot ignore, which leads us to ask ourselves: what is true happiness? What is the true meaning of life? What can free us from being trapped in meaninglessness, boredom and mediocrity?” asked the 69-year-old pope in his homily.
“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less,” Pope Leo told the young people.
Upon your return to your countries, Leo told them, “continue to walk joyfully in the footsteps of the Savior, and spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith to everyone you meet!”
“Have a good trip home!”
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The colourful event under sunny skies was accompanied by music from a choir, and the presence of about 450 bishops and 700 priests, all in green robes. The massive golden arch that covered the stage was dominated by a massive cross.
The young pilgrims — hailing from 146 different countries, according to the Vatican — have filled Rome’s streets since Monday, chanting, singing and waving flags of their countries.
The festive atmosphere reached its peak Saturday ahead of an evening vigil presided over by Leo, with Italian broadcaster Rai dubbing it a Catholic “Woodstock”.
Hundreds of thousands of youths camped out at the dusty venue, strumming guitars or singing, others snoozing, as music blasted from the stage where a series of religious bands entertained the crowds.
Leo was greeted with deafening screams and applause after his arrival by helicopter Saturday as he toured the grounds in his popemobile, with many people running to catch a better glimpse of the new American pope.
At over 500,000 square metres (125 acres), the grounds were the size of around 70 football fields.
British student Andy Hewellyn had parked himself in front of a huge video screen — a prime spot, as he could not even see the stage far away.
“I’m so happy to be here, even if I’m a bit far from the pope. I knew what to expect!” he told AFP.
“The main thing is that we’re all together.”
The youth pilgrimage came about three months after the start of Leo’s papacy and 25 years after former pope John Paul II organised the last such youth gathering in Rome.
It was announced by former Pope Francis during World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023.
The Church planned a series of events for the young pilgrims over the course of the week, including turning the Circus Maximus — where chariot races were held in ancient Rome — into an open-air confessional.
