This was the first encounter between Pope Leo XIV and the young people.
POPE LEO XIV
Buonasera!
¡Buenas tardes!
Good evening!
Up to 120,000 people took part in the opening Mass of the Youth Jubilee—one of the most anticipated events of the year. Pope Leo’s presence was not expected… until he decided to show up at the end in the popemobile
Enthusiasm exploded for several minutes. When it ended, the pontiff climbed up to the altar area to deliver these words:
POPE LEO XIV
Jesus tells us: “You are the salt of the earth”, “You are the lights of the world!” You are the salt of the earth, light of the world! And today your voices, your enthusiasm, your shouts—which are all for Jesus Christ—will be heard to the ends of the earth!
At the end, he gave a final greeting in Italian and he asked that his last message be echoed across the entire square:
POPE LEO XIV
Let us hope that all of you will always be signs of hope in the world.
And our cry must also be for peace in the world. Let us all say: we want peace in the world. We want peace in the world. Let us pray for peace.
Pope Leo said goodbye and promised to see the young people again in Tor Vergata, at the Saturday night vigil.
JRB
Trans. CRT
