Over one million young people gathered in Rome for the Jubilee. The streets of the Eternal City overflowed with joy, songs, flags, and a vibrant spirit of faith.
From July 28 to August 3, young people from more than 75 countries came together to celebrate the Jubilee of Hope, marking the first major youth encounter with Pope Leo XIV.
The Legionaries of Christ were present, accompanying thousands of young pilgrims. The event featured several special moments with the Holy Father. We are pleased to share Pope Leo XIV’s messages, dialogues, and homily during the Youth Jubilee, as well as a photo gallery capturing the Legion, the young people, and their shared love for Christ.
The Jubilee officially began on Tuesday, July 29, with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Mons. Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. At the end of the celebration, Pope Leo XIV surprised the crowd by riding through the square in the popemobile, joyfully greeting the thousands of young people present. From there, he delivered a brief but heartfelt message:
Good afternoon!
Jesus tells us: “You are the salt of the earth,” “You are the light of the world.”
“You are the salt of the earth […] the light of the world” (Mt 5:13–14). And today, your voices, your enthusiasm, your shouts—all of them for Jesus Christ—will be heard to the ends of the earth.
Today, you are beginning a journey, the Jubilee of Hope, and the world is in need of messages of hope. You are that message, and you must continue to bring hope to all.
Our desire is that each of you may always be a sign of hope in the world. Today is just the beginning. In the coming days, you will have the opportunity to become a force that carries God’s grace—a message of hope, a light for the city of Rome, for Italy, and for the entire world. Let us walk together in our faith in Jesus Christ.
And let our cry also be for peace in the world. Let us all repeat together: We want peace in the world!
(The youth in the square responded: We want peace in the world!)Let us pray for peace, and let us be witnesses of the peace of Jesus Christ—of reconciliation—the light the world is longing for.
Blessings.
See you soon—we’ll meet again at Tor Vergata. Have a joyful week!
On the weekend of August 2–3, a prayer vigil (Saturday) and a solemn Mass (Sunday) were held at Tor Vergata, the same site that hosted the World Youth Day during the Jubilee Year 2000. Both celebrations were presided over by the Holy Father.
We share below some key resources from those days:
- Dialogue between the Pope and the young people during the Jubilee Vigil (August 2)
- Homily of Pope Leo XIV – Youth Jubilee (August 3)
The Legionaries and the Youth
The Legionaries of Christ Constitutions clearly state that “the purpose of the Congregation is to give glory to God and to seek the establishment of Christ’s Kingdom in the lives of its members, in the hearts of all people, and in society.”
Faithful to this mission, hundreds of Legionaries joined the Regnum Christi youth groups who traveled to Rome to participate in the Jubilee.
Joy, spirit, faith, spirituality, and evangelization were some of the hallmarks of the Legionaries’ presence at this Youth Jubilee.
We share here some images capturing these special moments:
