More than 800,000 pilgrims cry and cheer as pontiff arrives at open-air youth prayer event outside Rome
Hundreds of thousands of young faithful feted Pope Leo XIV like a rock star on Saturday at an open-air prayer vigil outside Rome, after the head of the Catholic church made a dramatic entrance by helicopter.
Pilgrims began crying and cheering when the white military helicopter descended over the sprawling site in Rome’s eastern outskirts. Organisers said more than 800,000 young pilgrims from 146 countries around the world had assembled as part of a Jubilee of Youth – and perhaps as many as 1 million.
Smiling from his popemobile, the first US pope waved to throngs of screaming young people lining his route, many running for a better vantage point.
They had already spent the day in the hot sun listening to music, praying and talking with fellow Catholics. “The pope is here” announced an excited voice over the public address to thunderous applause from the crowd.
