Pope Leo XIV appeared by surprise in the Plaza de San Pedro, to greet the thousands of participants from the Welcome Mass of the Jubilee of Youngthis Tuesday, July 29.
After touring the crowded square, in which thousands of young people stirred the flags of their countries, the Holy Father directed them a few words from the main altar. “Good eveningGood afternoon, good evening”Said Leo XIV, causing the uproar of the crowd.
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Then, in Spanish, the Pope remembered the words of Jesus: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world” (Mt. 5. 13,16).
“And today their voices, their enthusiasm, their screams; they are all for Jesus Christ and they will listen to them until the end of the world,” said Leo XIV. “Today is starting a few days, a path: the jubilee of hope, and the world needs messages of hope. You are this message and you have to continue giving hope to all,” he added.
“Hopefully all of you are always a sign of hope for everyone,” said the Holy Father, this time speaking in Italian.
“Today we are starting and in the next few days we will have the opportunity to be a force that will give the grace of God, which will be a hope and that will give light to the city of Rome and everyone,” he said.
Leo XIV asked young people to walk together “with our faith in Jesus Christ.” In addition, from the Plaza de San Pedro requested for the peace of the entire world: “Our cry must also be for the peace of the world. Let’s say all: we want the peace of the world! We want the peace of the world! Pray for peace.”
“Let us be testimony of the peace of Jesus Christ, of reconciliation, of this light of the world that we are all looking for,” added the Holy Father, again in Spanish. Finally, he prayed with the thousands of young people and taught his blessing.
“See you! We will find ourselves in Tor Vergata! Good week! ”The Pope said goodbye, referring to the prayer vigil that he will hold with young people on the night of August 2 and the final Mass of the Jubilee of the Youth, which will preside over August 3.
Andrés Henríquez
I was born in Caracas in 1996. I am a writer for ACI Press and correspondent of EWTN since 2023. Since then, I cover events of the Catholic Church in Venezuela, Latin America and the world. I have more than 6 years of experience in bilingual media. In addition, in Venezuela I have worked from various fields for freedom and respect for fundamental rights in the country. I am a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.