Egyptian Youth Perishes During Youth Jubilee in Rome; Pope Leo XIV Expresses Sorrow Over "Tragedy"
In the heart of Rome, the Tor Vergata neighbourhood is buzzing with energy as hundreds of thousands of young people from 146 countries gather for the Catholic Woodstock, or the Youth Jubilee, one of the most anticipated events of this Holy Year.
Among the sea of faces, 18-year-old Egyptian pilgrim Pascale Rafic, who was participating in the Jubilee of Youth, tragically passed away due to cardiac arrest on a bus. Pope Leo XIV expressed his deep sorrow over her death and personally met with the group of Egyptian pilgrims to offer spiritual comfort and prayers.
The Jubilee of Youth is part of the Holy Year celebrations, a special Catholic event that emphasizes hope, faith, and renewal. In his message to the pilgrims, Pope Leo XIV spoke about how Pascale’s sudden death poignantly reminds everyone that life is not superficial and that faith in Jesus Christ helps people endure painful experiences and continue moving forward.
In response to Pascale's death, Pope Leo XIV reached out to Bishop Jean-Marie Chami of the Greek Melkite Patriarchate to convey his spiritual closeness to Pascale’s family and community. He also included prayers for Pascale and another young woman, Maria from Spain, who also died during the Jubilee, during a vigil that ended with an hour of Eucharistic adoration and multilingual prayers.
As the sun sets, the pilgrims begin to arrive at the vigil, which will be held in the large expanse of Tor Vergata, on the outskirts of Rome. The vigil with Pope Leo XIV is set to begin at 20:30 (18:30 GMT).
Meanwhile, in St. Peter's Square, the atmosphere is vibrant as the area has been transformed into an authentic Spanish festival for the Youth Jubilee. Nearly 20 musical and dance groups, many of them religious, are entertaining the crowd before the arrival of the Pope.
Pope Leo XIV surprised around 120,000 young people gathered in St. Peter's Square by greeting them from his popemobile. British student Andy Hewellyd, despite not being able to see the giant stage from his seat, felt a sense of awe and inspiration.
The Youth Jubilee will reach its culmination on Sunday morning with a massive mass officiated by Pope Leo XIV. The event, which has been dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock" by Italian broadcaster Rai, promises to be a memorable and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees.
As the evening progresses, the pilgrims continue to gather, their spirits undeterred by the recent tragedy. An artist shouted to the crowd, "¡The world needs you!", a sentiment echoed by many as they look forward to a night of prayers under the stars with Pope Leo XIV.
World science and medical-conditions intertwined as Pope Leo XIV called for prayers for Pascale Rafic and Maria during a vigil, held in Tor Vergata. The pilgrims, gathered to celebrate health and wellness at the Jubilee of Youth, were encouraged to continue their journey towards faith and renewal, realizing the fragility of life.
