Thousands of young and faithful Pope Leo are like rock stars and rock stars during an open-air prayer vigil outside Rome on Saturday after the leader of the Catholic Church was caught in a dramatic entrance to helicopters.
Pilgrims began to cry and cheer as white military helicopters landed on a sprawling ruin in the eastern suburbs of Rome. Organizers say 800,000 young pilgrims from 146 countries around the world have become part of the Youth Jubilee, many of which have reached 1 million.
The first American pope smiled from his popular glasses and waved a group of screaming young men, who lined up on his route, many running around.
They have spent the day in the hot sun, listening to music, praying and talking to Catholics. “The Pope is here” announced that people announced an excited voice to the thunderous applause in the crowd.
But as the pope took the stage, the tenor of the event became more solemn and thoughtful, carrying a large wooden cross. “Dear young man, after walking, praying and sharing the grace of Jubilee these days, we are now gathering together on the moving night to stay alert,” Leo, 69, told them.
18-year-old French pilgrim Julie Mortier was in the crowd, their voices croaking, singing and screaming for hours. “We are so happy to be here. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Pope,” she said.
Event organizers said people continued to arrive during the vigil and the number of attendance could reach 1 million.
Pope Leo XIV arrives at a helicopter and heads to the youth to pray for the jubilation of the vigil. Photo: Vatican swimming pool/Getty images
Most pilgrims say they will camp overnight at the Leo-led live site for Sunday morning mass. This will mark the climax of a week-long youth pilgrimage, an important event in the Catholic Jubilee.
Some of the crowds were very far away, and they could not see the huge stage of dominant golden arches and towering crosses – the M size of over 500,000 m2 is about 70 football fields.
“I'm happy to be here even if I'm a little far from the Pope. I know what's going to happen,” said Andy Hewellyn, a British student.
“It's mainly that we're together,” he said before the pope's appearance because other young people nearby played guitars, sang or played sns in the sun.
Italian broadcaster Rai called the event a Catholic “Woodstock” because there were nearly twenty music and dance troupes throughout the day, many of whom were entertained by religious people.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the pilgrims to the capital in a video message, who “pray, sing, joke, celebrate in an extraordinary party.”
The Jubilee of Youth, which began on Monday, comes nearly three months after the beginning of the Pope of Leo, and 25 years after the next such a massive youth gathering by Polish Pope John Paul II.
Earlier on Saturday, a group of young people set out from central Rome to the venue of Tor Vergata. They are ready to be surrounded by crowds and sleep under the stars for the next 24 hours.
Victoria Perez, carrying the Spanish flag, could not appreciate her excitement because she saw “the Pope's close distance”. “This is the first time I have seen him, and I can't wait,” the 21-year-old said.
French Pilgrim Quentin Remaury, 26, said he was inspired by the message sent to youth during his 2016 visit to Krakow, Poland. He said: “Pope Francis told us 'down the sofa' and that really gave me a boost.”
Throughout the week, participants participated in activities planned by the church, such as the plea of guilty at one of Rome’s top tourist attractions.
On Friday, about 1,000 priests were present, and 200 white gazebos were used as temporary confessions, lined with the arena of competition that the chariot race once held in ancient Rome.
With economic uncertainty under 30s, climate crisis and international conflicts, pilgrimage tours unfolding, some pilgrims traveling from war-torn areas such as Syria and Ukraine.
Samarei Semos, 29, said she had set out from Belize to Rome for three days and said she wanted Leo to speak strongly about the “third world nation.”
The Vatican said before the vigil, the pope met and accompanied the traveler, accompanying an 18-year-old Egyptian pilgrim who died Friday night.
Rai News reported that the young woman died of a heart attack on a bus while returning to her accommodation at an event in Rome.
The site is tightly safe, and organizers say at least 4,300 volunteers and more than 1,000 police officers are watching the vigil.