ROME, Italy — The Eternal City pulsed with youthful energy this past weekend as hundreds of thousands—possibly up to a million—young Catholics from across the globe converged on Rome for the highlight of the Vatican’s 2025 Holy Year: the Jubilee of Youth. At the heart of the festivities stood Pope Leo XIV, history’s first American pontiff, who presided over an emotionally charged vigil at the Tor Vergata field on the city’s outskirts. The event marked his first major encounter with the next generation of Catholics, setting the tone for a Holy Year expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to the Vatican.
The gathering began in earnest on July 29, 2025, with a mass led by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square, but it was Saturday night’s vigil that brought the week’s celebrations to their crescendo. Pilgrims from over 146 countries—many hailing from Europe, but also from conflict zones such as Lebanon, Iraq, Myanmar, Ukraine, Syria, and South Sudan—camped overnight on the dusty field, their tents and sleeping bags reminiscent of the World Youth Day festival held at the same location 25 years earlier. According to Italian media cited by CNS and AP, the crowd may have reached one million, far surpassing the initial estimates of 500,000.
The atmosphere was electric, despite the sweltering 30-degree Celsius (85F) heat. Misting trucks and water cannons sprayed the crowd to keep them cool, while volunteers handed out water bottles and a municipal app guided pilgrims to one of Rome’s 2,660 free water supply points. Security was tight, with gates, bag checks, and a 4,000-strong police presence ensuring safety. Pilgrims were asked to carry only essentials, and nearly 3,000 chemical toilets dotted the city. Accommodation ranged from a giant hostel at Fiera di Roma, capable of hosting 25,000 people, to the generosity of a thousand parishes, schools, and families providing beds and breakfasts.
For many, the discomforts were all part of the experience. “It’s a bit messed up, but this is what is nice about the Jubilee,” said 19-year-old Chloe Jobbour from Lebanon, as reported by AP. She recounted the two-hour wait for dinner at an overwhelmed KFC and the hour-long bus rides from her group’s accommodation, but shrugged it off with a smile: “I don’t expect it to be better than that. I expected it this way.”
Throughout the week, Rome’s cobblestoned streets and piazzas were alive with the sound of guitars, bongo drums, and tambourines as young people in color-coordinated T-shirts sang hymns, prayed the Rosary, and participated in Christian rock concerts and inspirational talks. The Circus Maximus became a spiritual hub, where 1,000 priests offered confession in a dozen languages, and pilgrims waited for hours for the chance to partake in the sacrament.
On Saturday evening, Pope Leo XIV arrived by helicopter to a sea of waving flags and cheers. He was handed the large Jubilee year cross, which he carried to the main altar, accompanied by dozens of young people. The vigil began with prayers, then shifted into a dialogue as several young attendees posed heartfelt questions to the pope about friendship, faith, and the courage to make life’s big decisions.
Addressing the crowd in Spanish, Italian, and English, Pope Leo XIV spoke candidly about the perils of social media and the importance of forging genuine human connections. “When a tool controls someone, that person becomes a tool: a commodity on the market and, in turn, a piece of merchandise. Only genuine relationships and stable connections can build good lives,” he warned, according to CNS. He acknowledged that while the internet and social media offer “an extraordinary opportunity for dialogue,” they can also fragment relationships when driven by commercial interests.
Friendship, the pope insisted, is a path to peace. “Friendship can really change the world. Friendship is a path to peace,” he said, adding, “How much the world needs missionaries of the Gospel who are witnesses of justice and peace.” He encouraged the youth to emulate St. Augustine, who found meaning and hope by turning to Christ after a restless youth. “How did he build his future? By following the one who had always been his friend,” Leo told the crowd, as reported by CNS.
Questions from the young pilgrims touched on the challenges of finding true friendship and love in a world of fleeting digital connections, and the anxiety of making radical life choices. “To choose is a fundamental human act,” the pope replied. “When we make a choice, in the strict sense, we decide who we want to become.” He urged them to remember they are chosen by God, and that “the courage to choose comes from love, which God shows us in Christ.” Leo described vocations such as marriage, priesthood, and religious life as “the free and liberating gift of self that makes us truly happy.”
But the joy of the occasion was tempered by tragedy. Departing from his prepared remarks, Pope Leo XIV shared the heartbreaking news that two young pilgrims had died during the Jubilee period. “Both of them chose to come to Rome for the youth jubilee, and they found death these days,” he said, naming Maria, a 20-year-old from Spain who had struggled with illness for four years, and Pascale, an 18-year-old from Egypt who died of a heart condition. “Let us pray together for them,” the pope urged. He also asked for prayers for Ignacio González, a hospitalized pilgrim at Bambino Gesú Hospital.
The pope’s words resonated deeply with the crowd, many of whom had traveled great distances and made personal sacrifices to be part of this once-in-a-generation event. “As a young person, having the chance to live this meeting with the pope I feel it is a spiritual growth,” said Francisco Michel, a pilgrim from Mexico, according to AP.
The city of Rome, for its part, displayed a mix of exasperation and admiration. Local residents grumbled about the crowded buses and disrupted commutes, while others, like hairdresser Rina Verdone, marveled at the “extraordinary festival of faith, joy and hope.” Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni echoed this sentiment in a video message, calling the event “marvelous.”
As dawn broke on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV returned to Tor Vergata to celebrate Mass, closing a weekend that will be remembered for its blend of exuberance, reflection, and resilience. The Jubilee of Youth, with its message of hope, courage, and authentic connection, has left an indelible mark not only on the young pilgrims, but on the city of Rome and the global Catholic community.
In a world often characterized by division and distraction, the gathering at Tor Vergata offered a powerful reminder: faith, friendship, and the courage to choose can still unite and inspire—even under the Roman sun.
