120,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Jubilee of Youth, with a surprise: the Pope arrived to greet the many people present at the welcoming Mass. The Pontiff toured the square in his popemobile, greeting everyone in every section, and then stopped for a brief message.
"You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world," the Pope told the young people present, in a message alternating between Italian, English, and Spanish. " The world needs the message of hope, and you are this sign of hope in the world . You can give light to the city of Rome, to Italy, and to the entire world. Our cry must be for peace in the world: we want peace in the world, we pray for peace, and we are witnesses of peace and reconciliation." Finally, he greeted them: "See you! We're meeting in Tor Vergata. Have a good week!"
"Don't leave, because the Pope is giving us a surprise and coming to greet us," was the message with which Monsignor Rino Fisichella announced Leo XIV's presence. This happened in front of a square that had been completely packed since well before 7:00 PM: young people had peacefully invaded the entire Vatican area, coming from over a hundred countries, with flags and chants . Numerous groups stopped on Via della Conciliazione, because St. Peter's Square couldn't hold all the pilgrims.
(Unioneonline)
