At a prayer vigil on 2 August 2025 at Tor Vergata in Rome, Pope Leo XIV addressed an estimated one million young pilgrims in his largest public event to date. Among those present for this Jubilee of Youth was a group of 15 SDC members and 22 candidates, who joyfully took part in the celebrations and united with the universal Church in prayer. The Pope acknowledged that social media offers an extraordinary opportunity for dialogue but often misleads when driven by consumerism and commercialism. He encouraged young people to form friendships rooted in God, reminding them that “it is the one who loves God in his friend who truly loves his friend.” Pope Leo XIV explained that when we make a choice, we decide who we want to become. He urged the young to reflect on their way of living, to seek justice, to serve the poor, and to adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
Furthermore, he invited the crowd to “study, work, and love according to the example of Jesus, the good Teacher who always walks beside us,” and prayed with them, “Stay with us, Lord … without you we cannot do the good we desire.” In his message, he encouraged young people to root their relationships and decisions in Christ, and to build their lives through authentic friendship, hope, justice, and service, even amid cultural noise and uncertainty.
