(ANS – Vatican City) – Referred to as “the most anticipated moment” of the Holy Year, the Youth Jubilee will see Rome open itself to the world—including areas tragically marked by war. The goal is to create a space where every young person, through dialogue with peers, can feel “embraced” and renew their calling to be “sentinels of the morning,” as Saint John Paul II proclaimed 25 years ago. These themes were presented on Wednesday, July 23, during a press conference at the Holy See Press Office, launching the events of the upcoming Youth Jubilee, scheduled for July 28 to August 3.
Speakers and Key Figures
Speakers included Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and coordinator of the Jubilee on behalf of the Holy See; Alfredo Mantovano, Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Rome’s Mayor and Jubilee Commissioner Roberto Gualtieri; Lazio Vice President Roberta Angelilli; Rome’s Prefect Lamberto Giannini; and Fabio Ciciliano, head of Civil Protection.
Fisichella: Youth from 146 Countries
Archbishop Fisichella highlighted that the Youth Jubilee is the “most anticipated” because it is the most widely attended event of the Holy Year, welcoming pilgrims from 146 countries, with 68% from Europe. He gave special mention to youth arriving from war-torn areas such as Lebanon, Iraq, Myanmar, Ukraine, Israel, Syria, and South Sudan, emphasizing the symbolic “embrace” of the new generation.
The Italian government was thanked for its daily involvement in organizing the event. On July 28, the first half-million pilgrims are expected to arrive, with accommodations prepared through 270 parishes, 400 schools, 40 additional venues, Civil Protection shelters, sports arenas, and host families. That same day will also mark the beginning of the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries.
To feed attendees, 20 food distribution points will provide meals and dinners. On July 29, the “Dialogues with the City” program will begin: 70 events across Rome’s public squares from Tuesday through Thursday.
Penitential Day and Papal Events
• August 1: “Day of Reconciliation” at Circo Massimo, with 200 priests in shifts every two hours under large tents to offer confession, especially considering the expected summer heat.
• August 2: Gates open at Tor Vergata at 9 AM. The evening will feature performances by bands and entertainers, followed by a Vigil with Pope Leo XIV at 8:30 PM. Three young people—from Italy, Mexico, and the U.S.—will each ask the Pope a question in their native language.
• August 3: The Holy Father will preside over Eucharistic celebration.
Archbishop Fisichella also thanked the Dicastery for Communication for supporting Vatican Vox ( Google play, Apple Store) , an app offering multilingual translations and commentaries via Vatican Radio, and promoted a safety guide created with Civil Protection to help participants experience the event peacefully.
Mantovano: A Legacy for Youth from War Zones
Undersecretary Mantovano reflected on the joy his own children felt after attending World Youth Days. The Youth Jubilee, he said, aims to recreate that sense of wonder and build a priceless legacy, especially for youth from conflict zones, who will experience solidarity from peers who “choose to stand with them.”
He praised the efforts of over 2,000 Civil Protection volunteers, most of them youth themselves, and the 300 staff from Lazio Region and 200 from Rome City. None of this, he stressed, “happened by chance,” but came from a desire to ensure the Jubilee is “well-organized and safe.”
He closed by recalling Pope John Paul II’s call to youth in the Jubilee of 2000: “Be sentinels of the morning.” Twenty-five years later, he asked, “Have we truly responded to that call?”
Gualtieri: “A City Ready to Welcome the World”
Rome’s Mayor Gualtieri described the preparations as “the largest technological setup ever created for an event in Italy,” including a 500-square-meter control room to oversee the 521,400 m² site hosting pilgrims.
To beat the summer heat:
• 2,760 chemical toilets
• 2,660 water bottle refill stations
• 5 million bottles of drinking water
• 70 misting stations
Health support includes:
• 10 advanced medical stations
• 43 ambulances
• 4 “quiet areas” for rest and recovery
Angelilli: A Powerful Emotional Impact
Vice President Angelilli called the Jubilee “a memorable event,” both for its scale and for its “emotional impact.” The Lazio Region will host over 4,000 volunteers, with:
• 30 climate-controlled tents
• 5 field kitchens
• 300 parking spaces
Public transport will see 400 additional shifts and 60 dedicated buses, along with 21 hours of uninterrupted service on Metro lines A and C. Healthcare support will include 500 medical teams and a medical helicopter.
Giannini: Youth Protection Across the City
Rome’s Prefect Giannini reassured the public that there are “no negative signals” concerning the event, yet preparations remain rigorous. Special airspace restrictions will be in place over Tor Vergata to prohibit drones and aircraft.
All attendees will undergo security screening, and safety efforts will extend to key gathering points such as train stations and Circo Massimo on the Day of Reconciliation.
Ciciliano: International Support for Foreign Pilgrims
Fabio Ciciliano, head of Civil Protection, emphasized that the arrival of pilgrims from 146 countries required attention to international coordination. A dedicated international relations office will assist with issues like lost passports and reissuance of IDs, lessons learned from the Jubilee of 2000.
Sustainability and Global Youth Voices
In response to journalists’ questions, Mayor Gualtieri reassured that “most Jubilee infrastructure was designed with care for creation in mind.” Archbishop Fisichella noted the arrival of 1,500 youth from South Korea, the host of the next World Youth Day, and reminded everyone that Pope Francis concluded the Lisbon WYD by inviting youth to Rome.
The questions Pope Leo XIV will answer during the vigil will touch on topics such as:
• Friendship in the age of the internet
• Future and hope
• Unity and fraternity, a key message the Pope wishes to share globally.
“Beyond Conflicts”
In a separate interview with Vatican media, Archbishop Fisichella called the Youth Jubilee a unique opportunity for intergenerational dialogue, a bridge between those who’ve passed on the faith and those called to carry it forward.
He emphasized that both the Church and the Pope must listen to young people, and likewise, youth must be open to receiving core messages of life and relationship.
He reflected on the symbolic power of encounters between youth from countries in conflict, like Russia and Ukraine, or Israel and Palestine:
“This Jubilee allows us to look to a generation capable of overcoming conflicts with hope.”
He concluded by focusing on hope itself:
“It’s what accompanies you from the moment you open your eyes in the morning. Without it, truly living would be difficult.”
“A Unique Experience”
In his own interview, Mayor Gualtieri called this “the greatest organizational challenge” Rome has ever faced. Over 20,000 people—including security, medical staff, and volunteers—will be involved.
“It will be a unique experience,” said Gualtieri, “not just because of the logistics, but because of the message of hope, peace, and fraternity that young people will send to the world—even from lands scarred by war.”
Source: Vatican News