Pope Leo Inspires Over a Million Youth at Jubilee Mass

Rome, August 3, 2025 – Pope Leo celebrated the largest event of his nearly three-month pontificate on Sunday, addressing over a million young Catholics gathered in a vast field at Tor Vergata on the outskirts of Rome. The event, part of a special week of celebrations during the Catholic Holy Year, aimed to energise and inspire Catholic youth worldwide.

Amid vibrant scenes of young people dressed in colourful t-shirts and waving national flags, the Pontiff led a morning Mass under the summer sun. Shouts of “Viva il Papa” (Long live the Pope) echoed across the field as Pope Leo encouraged the young crowd to be bold witnesses of their faith.

“Dear young people... spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith to everyone you meet,” he urged during his homily.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Pope Leo made an emotional appeal for global peace, lamenting the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. “We are with the young people of Gaza, we are with the young people of Ukraine,” he said. “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.”

Many attendees had camped overnight in the field to secure a place for the Pope’s arrival early in the morning, braving the summer heat which was expected to reach 30°C (86°F) later in the day.

“It’s amazing to see just how big the world Church is, and how many people are here... and are on fire to see the Pope,” said 19-year-old Rita Piendl, who travelled from Germany to attend the Mass.

“We want to truly spread hope and love to the world, and we really want to make a difference for the better,” she added.

The global Catholic Church currently counts over 1.4 billion members. While it has seen slight growth in recent years, the Church continues to face declining adherence across Europe.

Sunday’s Mass marked the highlight of a week-long series of events in Rome for young Catholics, reinforcing the Holy See’s commitment to engaging the next generation with a message of faith, peace, and global solidarity.

Source: The Reuters

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