Overview

• More than one million young Catholics from 146 countries gathered at St. Peter’s Square and Tor Vergata in what the Vatican calls its largest youth event in Rome in 25 years
• Pope Leo XIV emphasized solidarity with young people from Gaza and Ukraine, underscoring the Church’s commitment to peace
• For the first time, a national Spanish delegation of over 30,000 held a sanctioned meeting in St. Peter’s Square, marking a shift in Vatican protocols
• Participants described intercultural dialogue and shared worship as a powerful force for hope and a new approach to religious experience
• Analysts say the Jubilee’s scale and innovative format could help reverse declining youth affiliation by modeling fresh pastoral outreach