Young people from around 150 countries gathered in Rome on Sunday for a grand Mass led by Pope Leo XIV, marking the close of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Youth.
The Mass was held at the wide-open grounds of the University of Tor Vergata, where more than one million participants were present.
Pope Leo XIV arrived by helicopter and popemobile, welcomed by loud cheers from the crowd. During the ceremony, he addressed the global youth, sharing messages of hope, unity, and peace.
He also spoke about young people in conflict zones, including Gaza and Ukraine, who could not attend the event due to war.
He urged the crowd to imagine a future where peace is found through conversation instead of violence and to strive for lives filled with purpose.
The Jubilee of Youth is part of the larger Catholic Holy Year of forgiveness and pilgrimage, which continues until January.
Over the past week, about half a million young pilgrims camped out in the area, using tents, sleeping bags, and mats to rest between events.
Sunday’s closing Mass featured music from a large choir, with around 450 bishops and 700 priests present, all dressed in green liturgical robes.
A large golden arch with a tall cross formed the centerpiece of the open-air altar where the Pope delivered his message.
Earlier, a major concert took place on Saturday evening, attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees and gaining the nickname “Catholic Woodstock.”
The Circus Maximus, once used for ancient Roman chariot races, was transformed into an open-air space for confessions.
This youth event comes just three months into Leo XIV’s papacy and 25 years after the last similar gathering in Rome, led by Pope John Paul II.
The turnout and energy from young Catholics suggested strong support for the new pope’s early leadership.
The broader Holy Year is expected to draw millions of pilgrims to the Vatican throughout the coming months.