ROME – On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV encouraged over a million young Catholics to “carry forward your enthusiasm and share your faith” as they head back to roughly 150 countries. This message came during a Mass concluded a weeklong event focused on engaging with the future of the Church.

Pope Leo implored these young individuals, “Aim for greatness and holiness wherever life takes you. Don’t settle for mediocrity. By doing so, the Gospel’s light will steadily increase within you and around you.”

The youth spent the night camping in vast fields southeast of Rome after attending a vigil service on Saturday for the Jubilee of Youth, which was also led by Pope Leo, who traveled to and from Vatican City by helicopter.

The Vatican said more than 1 million young people were present, along with 7,000 priests and 450 bishops.

This Jubilee event is part of the Holy Year, a celebration anticipated to attract 32 million visitors to the Vatican, honoring an ancient pilgrimage tradition to the heart of Catholicism.

The week featured joyful occasions, with groups of young people singing hymns as they traversed cobblestone streets, reciting rosaries in public squares, and waiting for hours at the Circus Maximus to confess their sins to priests who offered the sacrament in multiple languages.

During the event, Leo also brought a somber note, announcing on Saturday that two young pilgrims had tragically passed away—one suspected from cardiac arrest—and another was hospitalized.

Rain overnight awakened the faithful but didn’t dampen their spirits.

“At least we were a little covered, but we still got a bit wet. We lost our voices a little. It was cold, but we woke up to a beautiful sun and view,’’ said Soemil Rios, 20, from Puerto Rico. “Despite the difficulties, it was very nice and very special to have been part of this historic moment.”

Sister Giulia De Luca of Rome acknowledge that “waking up was a bit tough,” but that she was looking forward to seeing the pope again.

“It will be very nice to conclude a very intense week together. Definitely a lot of fun, but also very challenging in many ways,” she said.

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Barry reported from Milan