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Pope Leo XIV holds a Mass with young people participating in the Youths Jubilee at the Tor Vergata field in Rome, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.
Andrew Medichini/AP
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Andrew Medichini/AP
ROME — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday told more than a million Catholic youths at a closing Mass for a weeklong encounter with the next generation of faithful that they are “the sign that a different world is possible” where conflicts can be resolved with dialogue, not weapons.
In his closing blessing for the Jubilee of Youth, Leo remembered the young people of Gaza and Ukraine and other countries “bloodied by war” who could not join their celebration.
“We are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils, which are caused by other human beings,” Leo said. “We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war.”
“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.”
The young people camped out in sprawling fields southeast of Rome overnight after attending a vigil service on Saturday, also presided by Leo who has been ferried from Vatican City by helicopter. The special Jubilee celebration is part of the Holy Year that is expected to draw 32 million people to the Vatican for the centuries-old pilgrimage to the seat of Catholicism.
The Vatican said more than 1 million young people were present, along with 7,000 priests and 450 bishops.
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