ROME – Like a rock star, more than a rock star: Pope Leo XIV gathers an oceanic crowd of young people from every corner of the planet and, without “ifs” or “buts” (unlike other… rock “colleagues”), takes a clear, unequivocal position: “We are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils which are caused by other human beings. We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war…”.
On Sunday, a million—or perhaps more—young people from all over the world flocked to Tor Vergata, a suburb of Rome, ready to listen to the Pontiff’s words on the occasion of the Jubilee of Youth. From the large red, white, and gold stage in the heart of Tor Vergata, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Holy Mass and then recited the Angelus, granting the final blessing, sealing what promised—and proved to be—the most impressive and well-attended event of the entire Holy Year.
As he already did at the previous day’s Vigil, the Pontiff remembered María and Pascale, “the two young pilgrims, one Spanish and the other Egyptian, who have left us in recent days.” María Cobo, 20, died on July 30 before arriving in Rome for health reasons. Pascale Rafic, 18, from Egypt, died over the weekend of a heart attack while traveling by bus to the parish of Artena, in the province of Rome, where she was attending the Jubilee of Youth celebrations. Pope Leo received the girl’s traveling companions in the Vatican as a sign of consolation and encouragement, as Vatican News reports.
Then, the Pope also addressed words of consolation and encouragement, speaking in English, to all the young people living under the roar of bombs, in fear of attacks, and in the horror of loss and destruction. “In communion with Christ, our peace and hope for the world, we are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils which are caused by other human beings. 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…”. And he concludes this final act of the Jubilee by inviting everyone to Seoul, South Korea, for WYD (World Youth Day), which will be held from August 3 to 8, 2027.
The chorus of “Pope Leo, Pope Leo” accompanies the final greetings, with the Successor of Peter clasping the hands of some of those present and then moving to say “hello” to the diverse crowd that has awaited this moment all day and night.
Finally, he boards the popemobile for a final lap before departing by helicopter. Just like a rock star. A real one.
In the pic at the top of the article, the Pope aboard the helicopter over Tor Vergata (Vatican Media); in the pic above, young people in Tor Vergata (Twitter X – @DPCgov)
