How Pope Leo XIV hit hearts of a generation
In a large plain of the Roman suburbs, 800,000 young people are sprawled on their bags or floor mats spread over clay. After walking and trampling for two hours under the sun, they are waiting for the start of the final vigil of the young jubilee, which took place in Rome from July 28 to August 3.
Their nonchalant attitude reveals nothing, if not by the spark of joy which shines at the bottom of each gaze: they have lived an intense week and overwhelming experiences. “I made my first Catholic friends,” said Marine, 18, said happily. “I felt a fraternity that I had found anywhere else. I lived a worship for the first time, during which I was filled with peace and joy. I felt the presence of God very strongly by passing the Holy Door. Now it’s over, but I can no longer stop believing,” says the girl, who has been walking in faith for a year.
A week of jubilee in the eternal city has welded young people. Sitting on the ground in the dust, they discuss like old friends. Groups of different nationalities are challenged in the aisles and exchange pines and other gadgets. Despite dirt and fatigue, they sing and smile.
A pope attentive to each
Around 8 p.m., the Pope’s silhouette appears on the giant screens arranged at regular intervals. The whole plain shudders with joy, young people run to reach the edge of the aisles, ovations rise to welcome the church chief. “Dad Leone! Papa Leone!” The link is tied directly with juvenile assistance. The sovereign pontiff appears close and accessible. “When he passed, he turned around, he made us a little sign, he seemed very comfortable,” laughs Claire, 18. “He looks at some people in his eyes, not just the crowd. He looks attentive to everyone,” added his friend Philippine. If Léon XIV does not have a very extroverted personality, what he gives off strikes the pilgrims. “He is so smiling. He refers to joy and peace. In addition, he seems really happy and moved to see us,” enthuses Garance, 21 years old.
As soon as he begins to speak, the pope joins young people in what they are going through. He evokes the week experienced by the pilgrims then answers questions from three pilgrims on friendship, the great choices of life and the way of meeting God. With his radiant personality and his simple and direct words, the pope speaks in the heart of young people, open by a week of celebration, prayer and discomfort. He concludes it by repeating the message with which he wants each young person to leave: only the relationship to Christ makes people happy. This idea structures each of his answers and will return to the homily of the next day: “The meeting with the Risen Christ changes our lives”.
After the pope’s intervention, once the Blessed Sacrament was filed on the altar, a large meditation moved among the tens of thousands of young people. At the heart of this noisy and joyful weekend, a deep and silent parenthesis opens. “The vigil was very collected and praying,” says Anne-Céleste, 20. “When the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, we have experienced a moment of peace and connection with God,” testify four Argentines later in the night.
The jubilee’s boosted atmosphere resumed at the end of the vigil, filling the camp of percussion, dances and songs. But when the pope returns, after a short and restless night, interrupted by a little rain, something has changed. Proximity has been forged between him and the pilgrims. Like the day before, when he returned to the microphone to thank them and wish them good night before leaving, he goes on stage around 8 a.m. to greet them. “Hello everyone, I hope you rested a little!” He says all smiles, happy to find young people.
Mass is followed carefully by poorly awakened pilgrims. At the time of elevation, a complete silence falls on the plain. At the end of the celebration, after having urged them to a serious Christian life, the pope returns young people as a father chases his children from the house. “Thank you, thank you all!” He claims at the end of the celebration, ovationed by a conquered crowd. “Wear this joy and this enthusiasm throughout the world! You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world!”, He exclaims with force. The long lines of pilgrims and flags stretch again to leave the plain. Young people leave calmly. They found what they needed: a father, a mission and the feeling of belonging to an immense community.
