Pope Leo XIV welcomed hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims to Rome for a weeklong festival of faith, music, and spiritual reflection, an event the Vatican described as the largest gathering of his papacy.
Youths from across the globe flooded the Eternal City, waving flags, singing in the streets, and camping in massive warehouses on the city’s edge as part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Youth.
Arriving by helicopter on Saturday evening, Pope Leo greeted the energized crowd with waves and blessings and even caught a tennis ball tossed from the sea of pilgrims, hinting at his fondness for the sport.
The night culminated in a prayer vigil at Rome’s Tor Vergata district, where the pope led a moment of profound silence under the stars. Thousands of teens and young adults spent the night on the open grounds, waking early Sunday for a Mass celebrated by Leo.
This youth jamboree marked a major moment for the Chicago-born pontiff, who has been in office for less than 100 days.
While his predecessor, Pope Francis, was known for candid exchanges and spontaneous speeches, Pope Leo has so far charted a quieter, more deliberate path.
He often sticks to prepared texts and is viewed as more methodical in approach. Still, observers noted his calm charisma and authentic presence, traits that resonated deeply with the young audience.
During the Jubilee, Leo managed to blend the vibrant energy of youth with moments of solemn spirituality.
On Saturday, the crowd fell completely silent as he knelt at the altar to lead them in prayer, a powerful demonstration of his contemplative Augustinian roots. And on Sunday, more than a million attendees were present for his Mass, making it the largest event of his tenure so far.
Fluent in multiple languages, Leo addressed the international gathering in Italian, Spanish, and English, with the latter drawing particular cheers.
At one point, he surprised the crowd with a visit after the welcome Mass and declared in English, “You are the light of the world!” to raucous applause.
While the Western world sees a growing trend of youth detachment from organized religion, recent studies suggest a possible reversal within the Catholic Church, with Gen Z showing renewed spiritual curiosity.
The event in Rome reflected that shift, with digital influencers and self-styled “Catholic missionaries” using social media to amplify the pope’s message to their online peers.
One such influencer, José De Urquidi, likened their mission to early church envoys: translating ancient truths into a language Gen Z understands. “We speak their culture,” he said.
Seventeen-year-old Milena Solano, who traveled from the U.S., shared how refreshing it was to be surrounded by peers who shared her faith. “Some people think it’s weird to be religious,” she said, “but here, you see you’re not alone.”
Leo, notably the first pope to wear an Apple Watch and pen his own emails, is attuned to the digital landscape. He warned the youth of algorithms shaping their worldview and relationships, encouraging them to seek real, grounded connections.
Young attendees also voiced hopes that Pope Leo would speak out for the marginalized.
“I’d love for him to pray for immigrants and refugees,” said 17-year-old Victoria Aguirre from Chicago. Damian Hernandez, 18, from New Mexico, hoped the pope would stress compassion amid U.S. deportation debates.
American pilgrims felt an extra connection to Leo, their hometown pope. Some chanted “Viva il papa!” as he addressed them in English. One even handed him a slice of Chicago’s iconic deep-dish pizza in St. Peter’s Square — a nod to Leo’s past visits to Aurelio’s in Homewood, Illinois.
Now one of the world’s most recognized figures, Pope Leo is taking his time to grow into the role. While many leaders aim to make bold early moves, he appears content to listen and observe before making significant decisions, particularly regarding the Roman Curia.
That deliberate strategy may give him lasting influence as both a reformer and global moral voice.
“We are with the young people of Gaza, we are with the young people of Ukraine,” he told the crowd during Sunday’s Mass.
And as they prepared to return home, Leo left them with a call to action: “My young brothers and sisters, you are the sign that a different world is possible.”
