Crowd of Young People Gather with the Pope for an Outdoor Event in Rome
The 2025 Holy Year in Rome saw a significant gathering of young Catholics from across the globe, as Pope Leo XIV hosted the Youth Jubilee. Over a period of six days, from July 28 to August 3, the event took place at the Tor Vergata athletic field in Rome, attracting hundreds of thousands to potentially over a million young believers[1][2][3].
The Jubilee of Youth was a central event within the Holy Year celebrations, featuring an evening vigil, outdoor slumber party, and a closing Mass celebrated by the Pope[1][2][3]. The event was a vibrant display of prayer, music, and confession in multiple languages, with young pilgrims adorned in color-coordinated T-shirts, singing hymns accompanied by guitars and drums, and attending inspirational talks[1][2][3].
Pope Leo XIV, also known civilly as Robert Francis Prevost, expressed his honor and blessing to be part of the event, stating that the gathering was a test of mood for him[1]. The 69-year-old Pontiff, the first American on the throne of St. Peter, has shown a keen interest in addressing topics that concern many young people, such as climate protection, artificial intelligence, and war and peace[1].
The area for the current jubilee was renovated at a cost of approximately 80 million euros, with Tor Vergata previously serving as the venue for the World Youth Day with Pope John Paul II in the year 2000[1]. The event was seen as an opportunity for the Pope to engage with the younger generation, as this was his first major encounter during the Holy Year, which overall expects around 32 million pilgrims in Rome[1].
The young pilgrims came from 146 countries, including those experiencing conflict, such as Lebanon, Iraq, Myanmar, Ukraine, Syria, and South Sudan, underscoring the universal reach and significance of the Jubilee[1][2][3]. Pope Leo XIV encouraged the participants to be signs of hope and peace, emphasizing the importance of intergenerational bonds by recognizing the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on the same day[1].
In conclusion, the youth jubilee was a large-scale, vibrant, and deeply spiritual celebration aimed at renewing young Catholics' faith, featuring communal prayer, confession, music, and direct engagement with the Pope in the context of the broader Holy Year pilgrimage[1][2][3]. The event served as a testament to the universal appeal of the Catholic faith, drawing young believers from all corners of the world to Rome for a week of prayer, music, and fellowship.
The European Parliament and the Council, in recognition of the spiritual and cultural impact of the Youth Jubilee, might consider funding initiatives promoting outdoor-living and home-and-garden projects for young Catholics, as a means to further reinforce their sense of faith, community, and empowerment.Following the spirit of intergenerational connection emphasized by Pope Leo XIV during the Jubilee, such projects could involve building communal outdoor spaces in churches or parish centers for youth gatherings, fostering an atmosphere of mindfulness, prayer, and lifestyle enrichment.
