Pope Leo tells 1 million Catholic youths they’re signal ‘completely different world is feasible’ : NPR

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Andrew Medichini/AP ROME — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday informed greater than one million Catholic youths at a closing Mass for a weeklong encounter with the subsequent era of trustworthy that they're "the signal {that a} completely different world is feasible" the place conflicts might be resolved with dialogue, not weapons.

In his closing blessing for the Jubilee of Youth, Leo remembered the younger individuals of Gaza and Ukraine and different nations "bloodied by struggle" who couldn't be part of their celebration.

"We're nearer than ever to younger individuals who undergo probably the most critical evils, that are attributable to different human beings," Leo mentioned. "We're with the younger individuals of Gaza. We're with the younger individuals of Ukraine, with these of each land bloodied by struggle."

"My younger brothers and sisters, you're the signal {that a} completely different world is feasible. A world of fraternity and friendship, the place conflicts should not resolved with weapons, however with dialogue."

The younger individuals camped out in sprawling fields southeast of Rome in a single day after attending a vigil service on Saturday, additionally presided by Leo who has been ferried from Vatican Metropolis by helicopter. The particular Jubilee celebration is a part of the Holy 12 months that's anticipated to attract 32 million individuals to the Vatican for the centuries-old pilgrimage to the seat of Catholicism.

The Vatican mentioned greater than 1 million younger individuals had been current, together with 7,000 clergymen and 450 bishops.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6208x4139+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5c%2F78%2Fb97bb7784cadabaa77873b8820d3%2Fap25215277441923.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6208x4139+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5c%2F78%2Fb97bb7784cadabaa77873b8820d3%2Fap25215277441923.jpg" class="img" alt="Young people wake up after spending the night at the Tor Vergata field in Rome as they participate in the Youths Jubilee, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025." loading="lazy"/> Younger individuals get up after spending the night time on the Tor Vergata subject in Rome as they take part within the Youths Jubilee, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. Andrew Medichini/AP disguise caption

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Andrew Medichini/AP Through the Sunday homily, Leo urged the contributors to "unfold your enthusiasm and the witness of your religion" once they return residence to some 150 nations.

"Aspire to nice issues, to holiness, wherever you might be," Leo urged the younger trustworthy. "Don't accept much less. You'll then see the sunshine of the Gospel rising day-after-day, in you and round you."

Leo reminded the group that their subsequent encounter can be for World Youth Day, set for Aug. 3-8, 2027, in Seoul, South Korea.

The week has been a joyous gathering marked by bands of youths singing hymns as they transfer down cobblestoned streets, praying rosaries in piazzas and standing for hours on the Circus Maximus to admit their sins to clergymen providing the sacrament in a dozen languages.

Leo additionally shared some tragic information on Saturday: two younger individuals who had made the pilgrimage to Rome had died, one reportedly of cardiac arrest, whereas a 3rd was hospitalized.

Rain in a single day woke up the trustworthy however did not dampen their spirits.

"At the very least we had been a little bit lined, however we nonetheless bought a bit moist. We misplaced our voices a little bit. It was chilly, however we woke as much as a good looking solar and examine," mentioned Soemil Rios, 20, from Puerto Rico. "Regardless of the difficulties, it was very good and really particular to have been a part of this historic second."

Sister Giulia De Luca, from Rome, acknowledged that "waking up was a bit powerful," however that she was wanting ahead to seeing the pope once more.

"It is going to be very good to conclude a really intense week collectively. Undoubtedly plenty of enjoyable, but in addition very difficult in some ways," she mentioned.