Pope Leo XIV connects with Generation Z: his message at the Catholic 'Woodstock'

More than one million faithful gathered in Rome to attend Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV, marking the closing of the Jubilee of Youth, one of the most significant events of the Holy Year. For a week, young people from around the world participated in spiritual, cultural, and social activities, culminating in a mass celebration on an esplanade in the Tor Vergata district, on the outskirts of the Italian capital.

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“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not be satisfied,” exhorted Pope Leo XIV in his homily, before a crowd that had been camped out since the previous night, under a sunny sky. At 69 years old, the pontiff also reflected on the true meaning of life: “What is the true flavor of life? What frees us from the swamps of meaninglessness, boredom, and mediocrity?” he asked those present. The Mass brought together some 450 bishops and 700 priests, all dressed in green robes, beneath a large golden arch crowned by a monumental cross. The atmosphere was accompanied by choral music and the enthusiasm of thousands of pilgrims who waved flags, sang, and shared moments of prayer. The Vatican confirmed that 800,000 people participated in the Saturday night vigil, and that the number had grown to more than a million by Sunday. Many attendees spent the night in tents, sleeping bags, or mats, in what several described as a unique experience of community and faith.

“I didn't expect to see so many people. I knew there would be crowds, but this was beyond me,” Christofer Delano, a young New Yorker, told AFP. Andy Hewellyn, a British student, said: “I'm so happy to be here, even if I'm a little far from the Pope. I knew what I was coming for! The important thing is that we're all together.”

The Saturday vigil was described by Italian broadcaster RAI as a true "Catholic Woodstock" due to its festive atmosphere and massive youthful turnout. The young pilgrims, from 146 countries, transformed the dusty 500,000-square-meter site, equivalent to about 70 soccer fields, into a camp filled with music, guitars, singing, and prayer.

"We are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils, caused by other human beings ," the Pope recalled during the Angelus, calling for solidarity with those coming from areas affected by war and violence.

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The Jubilee of Youth was celebrated just three months into the pontificate of Leo XIV, the first Peruvian-American pope in history. His presence was greeted with shouts and applause after he arrived by helicopter at Tor Vergata, and he rode around the esplanade in his popemobile as pilgrims ran to greet him. During the week, the Church organized various activities for young people, including the transformation of the historic Circus Maximus, where chariot races were held in ancient Rome, into a large open-air confessional, with dozens of priests available to provide spiritual guidance to those attending. To close the meeting, Leo XIV encouraged young people to continue being a light in the world:

“Continue walking joyfully in the footsteps of the Savior, and share with those you meet the enthusiasm and witness of your faith. Good journey!”

AFP