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| Pope Leo brings youth jubilee to a close with mass for more than a million | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Pontiff presides over culmination of ‘Catholic Woodstock’ that drew young people from 146 countries | Pontiff presides over culmination of ‘Catholic Woodstock’ that drew young people from 146 countries |
| Pope Leo XIV presided over a mass in Rome for more than a million young people on Sunday, the culmination of a pilgrimage that has drawn Catholics from across the world. | Pope Leo XIV presided over a mass in Rome for more than a million young people on Sunday, the culmination of a pilgrimage that has drawn Catholics from across the world. |
| “Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less,” the pope told the crowd. | |
| The week-long Jubilee of Youth, a highlight of the jubilee holy year, was an enormous undertaking for the Vatican, with a half a million young pilgrims in Rome for most of the week. | |
| Before a twilight vigil led by the pope on Saturday night, organisers said there had been 800,000 people in the vast open-air space on Rome’s eastern outskirts. The Vatican said on Sunday that number had grown to a million. | Before a twilight vigil led by the pope on Saturday night, organisers said there had been 800,000 people in the vast open-air space on Rome’s eastern outskirts. The Vatican said on Sunday that number had grown to a million. |
| Most of them spent the night in tents, in sleeping bags or on mats in anticipation of Sunday’s mass. | Most of them spent the night in tents, in sleeping bags or on mats in anticipation of Sunday’s mass. |
| Among them was New Yorker Christofer Delano, who said he had been “so happy to see Pope Leo” but was stunned by the crowds. | Among them was New Yorker Christofer Delano, who said he had been “so happy to see Pope Leo” but was stunned by the crowds. |
| “I didn’t expect to see all these people. I knew there was going to be a lot of people, I didn’t know it was going to be this many,” he said. | “I didn’t expect to see all these people. I knew there was going to be a lot of people, I didn’t know it was going to be this many,” he said. |
| In his homily, the former missionary and first US pope encouraged the gathered youth to “spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith to everyone you meet”. | |
| The Vatican has sought to highlight the fact that pilgrims travelled to Rome from war-torn regions, and Leo said in his Angelus prayer: “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,” the pontiff said. | “We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war,” the pontiff said. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| The colourful event was accompanied by music from a choir and about 450 bishops and 700 priests all dressed in green robes. A towering cross dominated the golden arch covering the stage where the pope led mass. | The colourful event was accompanied by music from a choir and about 450 bishops and 700 priests all dressed in green robes. A towering cross dominated the golden arch covering the stage where the pope led mass. |
| Tommaso Benedetti, an Italian pilgrim, said the pope had passed his first test in the eyes of young people during the youth jubilee. | Tommaso Benedetti, an Italian pilgrim, said the pope had passed his first test in the eyes of young people during the youth jubilee. |
| “We feel quite satisfied. There were many references to peace, which is a theme that is very close to our hearts as young people,” he said. | “We feel quite satisfied. There were many references to peace, which is a theme that is very close to our hearts as young people,” he said. |
| The young pilgrims – from 146 different countries, according to the Vatican – have filled Rome’s streets since Monday, chanting, singing and waving their countries’ flags. | The young pilgrims – from 146 different countries, according to the Vatican – have filled Rome’s streets since Monday, chanting, singing and waving their countries’ flags. |
| The festive atmosphere reached a peak on Saturday before the vigil presided over by Leo. The Italian broadcaster Rai called it a Catholic Woodstock. | |
| Hundreds of thousands camped out at the dusty venue, strumming guitars or singing, as music blasted from the stage where a series of religious bands entertained the crowds. | Hundreds of thousands camped out at the dusty venue, strumming guitars or singing, as music blasted from the stage where a series of religious bands entertained the crowds. |
| Leo was greeted with deafening screams and applause after his arrival by helicopter and as he toured the grounds in his popemobile, with many people running to catch a better glimpse of the new pope. | Leo was greeted with deafening screams and applause after his arrival by helicopter and as he toured the grounds in his popemobile, with many people running to catch a better glimpse of the new pope. |
| Roads leading to the Tor Vergata venue, a 40-minute drive from the centre of Rome, were packed, making Leo’s choice of helicopter transport more efficient. | |
| At more than 500,000 sq metres (125 acres), the grounds were the size of about 70 football pitches. | |
| Andy Hewellyn, a British student, sat in front of a huge video screen – a prime spot because he was unable to see the stage in the distance. | Andy Hewellyn, a British student, sat in front of a huge video screen – a prime spot because he was unable to see the stage in the distance. |
| “I’m so happy to be here, even if I’m a bit far from the pope. I knew what to expect,” he said. “The main thing is that we’re all together.” | “I’m so happy to be here, even if I’m a bit far from the pope. I knew what to expect,” he said. “The main thing is that we’re all together.” |
| The youth pilgrimage came about three months after the start of Leo’s papacy and 25 years after John Paul II organised the last such gathering in Rome. | The youth pilgrimage came about three months after the start of Leo’s papacy and 25 years after John Paul II organised the last such gathering in Rome. |
| It was announced by Pope Francis on World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023. | It was announced by Pope Francis on World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023. |
| The church planned a series of events for the young pilgrims over the course of the week, including turning the Circus Maximus – where chariot races were held in ancient Rome – into an open-air confessional. | The church planned a series of events for the young pilgrims over the course of the week, including turning the Circus Maximus – where chariot races were held in ancient Rome – into an open-air confessional. |