Addressing thousands of young pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on the evening of July 29, Pope Leo XIV quoted the Gospel of Matthew, “You are the light of the world”, to urge them to shine with the hope and joy of Christ in a world longing for light.
His powerful message followed a Mass presided over by Archbishop Rino Fisichella and marked a key moment in the Jubilee of Youth celebrations.
Riding through the square in the Popemobile, the Holy Father greeted the diverse, international crowd with warmth and energy.
“Good evening! Buonasera! Buenas tardes!” he exclaimed, acknowledging the youthful presence of the universal Church. Quoting Jesus’ words, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world”, he reminded them of their vital role as witnesses of faith and bearers of God’s light.
“Today marks the beginning of a new journey, a jubilee of hope, and the world needs messages of hope. You are that message,” the Pope told the youth, encouraging them to go forth with courage and compassion.
As cheers and chants filled the square, Pope Leo called on the young people to walk together in faith and bring God’s grace into their communities and the world. “Let us walk together with our faith in Jesus Christ,” he said.
Turning to the urgent need for peace, the Pope invited the crowd to raise their voices in unity: “We must also cry out for peace in the world. Let us all say, ‘We want peace in the world!’”
In a thunderous response, the youth echoed back his call, transforming the square into a collective prayer for peace and healing.
The Holy Father concluded by blessing the assembly and encouraging them to continue the pilgrimage with purpose and joy.
“Let us pray for peace and be witnesses of the peace and reconciliation of Jesus Christ, the light that we are all seeking for today’s world,” he said.
With a wave and a smile, he added, “See you soon. See you in Tor Vergata! Have a good week!”
Pope Leo XIV is expected to join the young people again for a Prayer Vigil on August 2, and to preside over the closing Eucharistic celebration at Tor Vergata, Rome, bringing this significant Jubilee gathering to a close with a moment of deep spiritual renewal.
More than a festive gathering, the encounter at St. Peter’s Square became a moment of spiritual commissioning, sending forth the young Church as luminous witnesses in a world yearning for the light of Christ.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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