Pope Leo XIV addressed Catholic digital missionaries and influencers on July 29 at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Vatican
Greeting tens of thousands of visitors crowded in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV welcomed all the young people who arrived in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth.
More than half a million young people from 146 countries are set to arrive July 28 for the start of the weeklong Jubilee of Youth, which will include a special Jubilee dedicated to Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers. However, at least 1 million people are expected to attend the final Mass Aug. 3 with Pope Leo XIV in Rome’s Tor Vergata neighborhood, site of the historic World Youth Day during that Holy Year in 2000. More than 2 million people participated in that Mass.
The relics of two saints-to-be — Blesseds Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis — will be in Rome for veneration during the Jubilee of Youth, July 28-Aug. 3, according to worldyouthday.com.
Peering at the sunlit skies through a Vatican-owned space telescope and calling the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 spaceflight mission was how Pope Leo XIV celebrated the anniversary of the first crewed moon landing.
After an early morning attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza, Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate ceasefire, dialogue, and peace in the region.
As part of his summer break, Pope Leo XIV visited members of the Italian Carabinieri in Castel Gandolfo and the Poor Clares in nearby Albano Laziale.
“Imitating the example of Jesus, the Savior of the world, we too are called to bring consolation and hope, above all to those who are experiencing discouragement and disappointment,” Pope Leo XIV said before reciting the Angelus with thousands of visitors gathered in the square in front of the papal summer villa of Castel Gandolfo July 13.
Pope Leo XIV called on every parish and church group or association to become part of a “revolution” of care and gratitude by regularly visiting older people.
Meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Pope Leo XIV reiterated his willingness to host representatives of Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican for peace negotiations.