After descending by helicopter on Saturday evening, Pope Leo XIV greeted the sea of excited pilgrims with waves and blessings – and at one point, catching a tennis ball thrown from the crowd, showing off a skill he may have learned from his own love of the sport.

Pope Leo XIV urges over one million Catholic young people to spread faith and enthusiasm The Pontiff celebrated the concluding mass of one of the most important events of the Holy Year. A million faithful filled the Tor Vergata esplanade in Rome.

Pope Leo celebrated the largest event yet of his nearly three-month tenure on Sunday, encouraging a crowd of more than a million Catholic young people gathered in a field on the outskirts of Rome to spread their faith.