Rome roars as ‘Rockstar’ Leo XIV draws a million

In a scene that evoked the spirit of Woodstock but with a sacred twist, more than one million young Catholics from 146 countries converged on the outskirts of Rome this weekend for a historic open-air vigil and Mass led by Pope Leo XIV, the Church’s first American pope.

For many, it was less a religious gathering and more a spiritual festival — a rock concert for the soul.

From twilight prayers to all-night camping under the stars, the “Jubilee of Youth” became a high point of the Church’s Holy Year and a defining moment in the early papacy of Leo, who has been hailed by some as a “rockstar pope.”

The event reached its crescendo Sunday with a final Mass led by the 69-year-old pontiff, who was greeted with thunderous cheers after arriving by helicopter.

The Vatican confirmed that over one million pilgrims — many of them teenagers and young adults — packed the 125-acre venue in Tor Vergata, a dusty stretch east of Rome transformed into a pop-up city of faith, music, and global fellowship.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said 18-year-old French pilgrim Julie Mortier, her voice hoarse from singing and cheering. “We’re too happy to be here!”

‘Walk with humility’

As reported by CBCP News, Filipino Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres offered his own message to young pilgrims during a Mass at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome.

“Openness with humility allows us to see the presence of God in others,” said Alarcon, who also chairs the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Youth.

He likened humility to a lens that sharpens spiritual vision and helps believers recognize God’s hand even in life’s messier moments.

“You can see God’s love even in messy circumstances,” he said. “Humility allows us to see God’s presence when we’re tired, when we’re not noticed, even when we don’t get what we expect.”

Alarcon warned that pride can blind people to grace and build emotional walls. “Pride closes our eyes and ears,” he said. “It blocks us from recognizing grace.”

“Let us continue to walk not only with hope, but with humility,” he added. “Humility that lets us see Christ in others — and recognize, not reject, God’s grace.”

Rockstar welcome

On Saturday evening, Leo arrived at the vigil like a headliner, descending by white military helicopter to screams of joy from the crowd. “The pope is here!” boomed an announcer as pilgrims waved flags, hoisted signs, and sprinted to get a better view of the popemobile.

Smiling broadly, Leo made his way through the crowds, waving to the faithful who had spent the day in the summer heat singing, praying, and swapping stories with fellow Catholics.

Dozens of musical and dance groups — many religious — kept the atmosphere lively with performances that Italian broadcaster Rai likened to a “Catholic Woodstock.”

“Even if I’m a bit far from the pope, I’m so happy to be here. I knew what to expect,” said British student Andy Hewellyn, seated in front of a large video screen. “The main thing is that we’re all together.”

Vigil under the stars

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the mood shifted from jubilant to reverent. Pilgrims held candles and sat in hushed silence as Leo appeared on the towering stage beneath a golden arch and a massive cross. He carried a large wooden cross and opened the vigil with a deeply personal message.

“Dear young people, after walking, praying and sharing these days of grace of the Jubilee dedicated to you, we now gather together in the light of the advancing evening to keep vigil together,” he told the assembled masses.

The vigil continued through the night, with thousands bedding down on sleeping mats and blankets. The air was filled with murmurs of prayer, soft guitar strumming, and the occasional cheer as groups spotted familiar flags in the sea of faces.

Hope in an uncertain world

Many of the pilgrims had come to Rome despite daunting odds — some from conflict zones such as Syria and Ukraine. Others, like 29-year-old Samarei Semos of Belize, traveled for days to get there, hopeful that Pope Leo would speak to the challenges facing youth in the developing world.

“He’s a pope who listens,” Semos said, clutching a Belizean flag. “I hope he speaks up for countries like mine.”

The gathering comes at a time when young people face mounting pressures — economic insecurity, climate change, and geopolitical unrest among them. Organizers said Pope Leo had prayed privately with a group of travelers who accompanied an 18-year-old Egyptian pilgrim who died of a heart attack Friday night.

The pilgrimage also saw ancient Rome repurposed for modern faith. Earlier in the week, the Church transformed the Circus Maximus — once home to chariot races — into an open-air confessional with 200 white gazebos and around 1,000 priests. The sight of young people lining up for confession amid Roman ruins became one of the most striking images of the event.

As the final Mass began Sunday morning under sunny skies, green-robed bishops and 700 priests took their places on stage. The Vatican said 450 bishops participated in the event, underscoring its significance on the Church calendar.

For many pilgrims, the logistics — the heat, the distance, the lack of sleep — mattered little in the face of what they experienced.

“It’s about unity,” said 26-year-old Quentin Remaury of France, who cited a call to action from Pope Francis during a 2016 youth gathering in Krakow: “Get off your couches.”

That call, he said, led him to Rome.

From the moment Pope Leo’s helicopter sliced through the Roman sky, to the final hymn on Sunday morning, the Jubilee of Youth bore all the hallmarks of a spiritual revolution — joyful, loud, and profoundly human.

“This,” Remaury said, “is Church at its best.”