Pope Leo tells 1 million Catholic youths they are sign ‘different world is possible’ : NPR
Pope Leo XIV holds a mass with young people participating in the young people in Tor Vergata Field in Rome, Sunday August 3, 2025.
Andrew Medichini / AP
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Andrew Medichini / AP
Rome – Pope Leo XIV said on Sunday to more than a million young Catholics during a closing mass for a week -long meeting with the next generation of faithful that they are “the sign that a different world is possible” where conflicts can be resolved with dialogue, not on arms.
In his closing blessing for the youth jubilee, Leo remembered young people from Gaza and Ukraine and other countries “bloody by the war” who could not join their celebration.
“We are closer than ever to young people who suffer from the most serious ills, who are caused by other human beings,” said Leo. “We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of Ukraine, with those of all the bloody lands by the war.”
“My young brothers and sisters, you are a sign that a different world is possible. A world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are not resolved with weapons, but with a dialogue.”
The young people camped in sprawling fields south-east of Rome during the night after attending a watch on Saturday, also chaired by Leo which was transported by the helicopter. The special celebration of the jubilee is part of the holy year which should attract 32 million people to the Vatican for the secular pilgrimage to the headquarters of Catholicism.
The Vatican said that more than a million young people were present, as well as 7,000 priests and 450 bishops.
The young people wake up after spending the night at the Tor Vergata Field in Rome as they participate in the young people on Sunday, August 3, 2025.
Andrew Medichini / AP
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Andrew Medichini / AP
During the Sunday Homely, Leo urged the participants to “spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith” on his return to 150 countries.
“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are,,” urged Leo to young faithful. “Don’t be satisfied. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you.”
Leo reminded the crowd that their next meeting will be for World Youth Day, scheduled for August 3 to 8, 2027 in Seoul, South Korea.
The week was a happy gathering marked by groups of young people singing hymns while they go down the rope streets, praying to piazzas rosaries and stand for hours at Circus Maximus to confess their sins to the priests offering the sacrament in a dozen languages.
Leo also shared new tragic tragic on Saturday: two young people who had made the pilgrimage to Rome died, a cardiac arrest, while a third party was hospitalized.
The rain during the night woke up the faithful but did not alleviate their morale.
“At least, we were a little covered, but we still wet. We lost their voice a little. It was cold, but we woke up with a beautiful sun and seen,” said Somil Rios, 20, from Puerto Rico. “Despite the difficulties, it was very pleasant and very special to have been part of this historic moment.”
The sister Giulia de Luca, of Rome admitted that “wake up was a little hard”, but that she was looking forward to seeing the pope again.
“It will be very pleasant to conclude a very intense week together. Certainly very fun, but also very difficult in many ways,” she said.
