In a stirring conclusion to the Jubilee of Youth at Tor Vergata, Pope Leo XIV called upon the assembled young Catholics to stand in solidarity with their peers enduring conflict around the world. The closing Mass—noted for drawing over one million participants from more than 150 countries—marked both a celebration of faith and a moment of pastoral compassion.
A Message of Compassion and Hope
Invoking Christ as “our peace and hope for the world,” the Pope spoke tenderly of the suffering faced by young people in hostilities, according to Vatican News.
“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.”
He affirmed that those gathered were themselves a living sign:
“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.”
Honouring Pilgrims Lost
The Pope also took a solemn moment to mourn two pilgrims—Maria, from Spain, and Pascale, from Egypt—who passed away in Rome due to sudden health crises during the week. He offered his deepest sympathies to their families and companions.
A Global Call to Mission
Harnessing the energy of youth, Pope Leo urged them to “spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith” in their home countries. He encouraged them not to settle for mediocrity, saying:
“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are… You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you.”
As the Mass ended, he invited pilgrims to carry forward this mission:
“Bring this joy, this enthusiasm, to all the world … to all the young people who need a message of hope.”
Looking Ahead: Seoul 2027
In his Angelus address following the Mass, Pope Leo announced the next international youth gathering: World Youth Day, to be held in Seoul, South Korea, from August 3–8, 2027. Borrowing the theme from the Gospel of John, he said: “Take courage! I have overcome the world.”
He emphasized that the spiritual “pilgrimage of hope” begun in Rome now continues across continents, calling participants to unity and witness in Asia.
In his closing words, Pope Leo XIV entrusted the young faithful with a compelling vision: a global community shaped by dialogue, reinforced by encounters with suffering, and sustained by faith and hope. His message was both consoling and challenging—an invitation to be instruments of peace in a world longing for reconciliation and encounter.
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