Rome Gears Up for Major Youth Jubilee Celebration
ROME — Next week, Rome is set to welcome around half a million young Catholics for an exciting Jubilee celebration. This event, promising to be one of the largest gatherings in recent times, will take place during peak tourist season, which will certainly challenge the city’s capacity to manage services, security, and logistics.
The two-day event will highlight a vigil service and an overnight gathering on August 2-3, culminating in a morning Mass with Pope Leo XIV, our first American pope. This gathering will occur on the same grounds where St. John Paul II welcomed about 2 million young believers during World Youth Day in 2000.
With temperatures expected to soar between 90°F and 93°F, organizers have prepared extensively. They will provide five million bottles of water, over 2,600 drinking stations, and even giant water cannons to help keep participants cool.
Participants will spend the week engaging in various activities around Rome before heading to the Tor Vergata field, where they will camp overnight and participate in Sunday’s Mass. Attendees will need to trek at least three miles from the nearest transport hub to reach the location.
Security Measures in Place
Rome’s authorities, along with Vatican organizers, are implementing significant security strategies for this celebration, deemed the largest technological setup in Italy’s history. Approximately 4,000 police and firefighters will ensure safety, with additional support coming from law enforcement teams from Spain, France, and Poland, reflecting the expected turnout from those nations.
Airspace over the Tor Vergata area will be restricted, and 122 surveillance cameras will monitor the event’s proceedings. “The importance of this gathering calls for exceptional security measures,” stated Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini, acknowledging the attention the event is receiving in light of global tensions.
The Jubilee will attract a diverse group of participants, with about 68% of registrants coming from European nations, and pilgrims from a total of 146 countries set to join.
A New Generation’s Engagement
This youth Jubilee falls midway through the Vatican’s Holy Year celebrations, which occur every 25 years. So far in 2025, over 17 million pilgrims have attended various Jubilee events, and estimates show that around 32 million are anticipated by year’s end.
Similar to World Youth Day, a significant Catholic youth rally held every three years, this Jubilee is designed to inspire and unite the younger generation. Although the heat can pose challenges, many young attendees have created lasting memories at previous events.
Preparations and Support on the Ground
Rome has prepared well, especially with an increase in visitors during this festive period. To accommodate pilgrims, around 20,000 will stay at the city’s convention center, while others will be hosted in local schools and parishes.
The Jubilee has also prompted a surge in volunteer support. Thousands of civil protection and Vatican volunteers, alongside trained “stewards,” will assist participants throughout the event. Medical preparations include a helicopter, numerous ambulances, and mobile health positions to ensure everyone’s safety.
To prepare for the large influx of people, the notoriously busy public transport system is being enhanced, and sanitation efforts are heightened with thousands of shifts scheduled.
“Coordinating this massive undertaking is a significant institutional challenge,” remarked Roberta Angelilli, vice president of the Lazio region.
As the world watches, this Jubilee aims to strengthen the faith of young Catholics and reaffirm the values of community and devotion.
