The Pope, the first American in the position, was met with song, music and waving flags. Many young people have camped for several days and plan to stay overnight ahead of Sunday's large mass. According to the Vatican, up to one million participants are expected.
The event, which has been called a Catholic "Woodstock", offers music, dance and prayer from the stage with the Pope as prayer leader. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also welcomed the young people in a video greeting and called the event "an extraordinary party".
The youth jubilee is part of the larger Catholic jubilee year which is celebrated every twenty-fifth year. The last major youth jubilee in Rome was held in the year 2000 under the leadership of Pope John Paul II.
During the week, the young people have, among other things, gone to confession at Circus Maximus. On Saturday, the Pope also honored the memory of an Egyptian pilgrim who had died the day before.
