A Saturday night gathering in Košice, Slovakia, drew global attention after young Catholics at an outdoor electronic-music event received an unexpected message and apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV. The celebration, held on 8 November outside the historic St. Elisabeth Cathedral, combined the atmosphere of a youth festival with themes of faith, unity, and prayer.
The event marked the Jubilee of Young People and the 75th birthday of Archbishop Bernard Bober. According to the Independent, video projected onto the cathedral walls showed the pope greeting the crowd as lasers and lights illuminated the Gothic façade.
While social media posts suggested that Pope Leo “hosted a rave,” the reality was far more pastoral than sensational. According to Catholic News Agency, the pope did not attend in person nor preside over the music. Instead, he appeared through a prerecorded message displayed on large LED screens, offering his blessing to the thousands gathered: “Dear young people, with joy, I greet you, as you gather before the splendid cathedral of Košice, which is a beating heart of faith and hope. Coming from different nations, yet united by the same faith, your presence is a tangible sign of the fraternity and peace that is instilled in our hearts by friendship with Christ.”
The music for the evening was led by Father Guilherme Peixoto, a Portuguese priest known internationally as a DJ. He also performed at World Youth Day 2023. As CNA notes, Peixoto mixed electronic tracks with spiritual themes and incorporated segments of the pope’s message — including the final “amen” — into an unreleased piece titled “Dear Young People.” His conviction that “electronic music is a privileged way to build a better world,” reported by CNA, shaped the tone of the night.
The Archdiocese of Košice organized the celebration, which began with Mass offered by Archbishop Bober, president of the Slovakian Episcopal Conference, alongside the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Nicola Girasoli. Only after the liturgy did the evening transition into a youth-oriented cultural event, blending techno rhythms with Catholic symbolism.
According to the Independent, projection mapping and spotlights turned the cathedral into a glowing backdrop as the crowd danced — a visual reminder of Pope Leo’s ongoing efforts to meet young people where they are, especially at the intersections of culture and faith.
Catholic News Agency emphasized that claims circulating online about the pope “throwing a rave” misrepresented what took place. The Vatican supported the initiative and provided the papal message, but the local Church and DJ priest were the hands-on organizers. The heart of the gathering remained unmistakably evangelical: expressing joy, unity, and the shared mission of drawing young people closer to Christ.
As one of the pope’s most widely shared appearances this month, the Košice event highlighted a simple truth — even in unexpected settings, the Church continues to find creative ways to proclaim the Gospel and bless the next generation.
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