From July 28 to August 3, Rome will be transformed into the vibrant center of the Jubilee of Youth, the first under Pope Leo XIV. The Eternal City will welcome around one million young people from 146 countries, including numerous participants from war zones such as South Sudan, Lebanon and Syria.
The organizer and coordinator of the Jubilee 2025, Archbishop Monsignor Fisichella, emphasized that the Jubilee of Youth should send a strong signal of hope and highlight the encounter as an opportunity for real peace building in the world.
Pope Leo XIV encouraged young people to accept the Church's invitation and follow its call. He emphasized the importance of youth as a time of strength and joy and called on them to be beacons of hope and builders of a better world. Prayer, hope and service to others are at the heart of his message. Despite the summer heat, the arrival of the young people will have a positive impact on the city - both economically and through the fresh energy and enthusiasm.
The varied program includes 70 "Dialogues with the City", a day of penance with 800 priests in the Circus Maximus and a large closing mass with Pope Leo XIV on the Tor Vergata campus. The campus will be transformed into the largest open-air dormitory in the world. There, the Pope will be asked questions about friendship, courage and spirituality, which he will answer in various languages.
Many of the young people will also be inspired by role models such as the soon-to-be canonized Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized in Rome on 7 September 2025 and is known as a "digital saint" for his deep faith and commitment.
The Jubilee of Youth does not want to impose faith, but to share it - through hugs, music and living the Gospel. It is an encounter without barriers that makes Rome a city of faith, joy and hope for the future.
