A weeklong Jubilee celebration for young Catholics in photos
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Los Angeles Times
25 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Pope tells crowd of a million Catholic youths they are ‘the sign a different world is possible'
ROME — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday told more than a million Catholic youths at a closing Mass for a weeklong encounter with the next generation of faithful that they are 'the sign that a different world is possible,' where conflicts can be resolved with dialogue, not weapons. In his closing blessing for the Jubilee of Youth, Leo remembered the young people of the Gaza Strip and Ukraine and other countries at war who could not join their celebration. 'We are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils, which are caused by other human beings,' Leo said. 'We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war. 'My young brothers and sisters, you are the sign that a different world is possible. A world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are not resolved with weapons, but with dialogue.' The young people camped out in sprawling fields southeast of Rome overnight after attending a vigil service on Saturday, also presided over by Leo, who has been ferried from Vatican City by helicopter. The jubilee celebration is part of the Holy Year events that are expected to draw 32 million people to the Vatican for the centuries-old pilgrimage to the seat of Catholicism. The Vatican said more than 1 million young people were present, along with 7,000 priests and 450 bishops. During the Sunday homily, Leo urged the participants from some 150 countries to 'spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith' when they return home. 'Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are,' the first American pope urged the young faithful. 'Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you.' Leo reminded the crowd that the next youth encounter will be during World Youth Day, set for Aug. 3-8, 2027, in Seoul. The week has been a joyous gathering marked by bands of youths singing hymns as they move down cobblestone streets, praying the rosary in piazzas and standing for hours at the Circus Maximus to confess their sins to priests offering the sacrament in a dozen languages. Leo also shared some tragic news Saturday: Two young people who had made the pilgrimage to Rome had died, one reportedly of cardiac arrest, while a third was hospitalized. Rain overnight awakened the faithful but didn't dampen their spirits. 'At least we were a little covered, but we still got a bit wet. We lost our voices a little. It was cold, but we woke up to a beautiful sun and view,' said Soemil Rios, 20, an American from Puerto Rico. 'Despite the difficulties, it was very nice and very special to have been part of this historic moment.' Sister Giulia De Luca, from Rome, acknowledged that 'waking up was a bit tough' but that she was looking forward to seeing the pope again. 'It will be very nice to conclude a very intense week together. Definitely a lot of fun, but also very challenging in many ways,' she said. Barry and Santalucia write for the Associated Press and reported from Rome and Milan, respectively.
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Pope Leo XIV tells 1 million Catholic youths that they are ‘the sign a different world is possible'
'My young brothers and sisters, you are the sign that a different world is possible. A world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are not resolved with weapons, but with dialogue.' The young people camped out in sprawling fields southeast of Rome overnight after attending a vigil service on Saturday, also presided by Leo who has been ferried from Vatican City by helicopter. The special Jubilee celebration is part of the Holy Year that is expected to draw 32 million people to the Vatican for the centuries-old pilgrimage to the seat of Catholicism. Advertisement The Vatican said more than 1 million young people were present, along with 7,000 priests and 450 bishops. During the Sunday homily, Leo urged the participants to 'spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith' when they return home to some 150 countries. Advertisement 'Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are,' Leo urged the young faithful. 'Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you.' Leo reminded the crowd that their next encounter will be during World Youth Day, set for Aug. 3-8, 2027, in Seoul, South Korea. The week has been a joyous gathering marked by bands of youths singing hymns as they move down cobblestoned streets, praying the Rosary in piazzas and standing for hours at the Circus Maximus to confess their sins to priests offering the sacrament in a dozen languages. Leo also shared some tragic news on Saturday: two young people who had made the pilgrimage to Rome had died, one reportedly of cardiac arrest, while a third was hospitalized. Pope Leo XIV leaves at the end of a Mass with young people participating in the Youths Jubilee at the Tor Vergata field in Rome, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. Andrew Medichini/Associated Press Rain overnight awakened the faithful but didn't dampen their spirits. 'At least we were a little covered, but we still got a bit wet. We lost our voices a little. It was cold, but we woke up to a beautiful sun and view,' said Soemil Rios, 20, from Puerto Rico. 'Despite the difficulties, it was very nice and very special to have been part of this historic moment.' Sister Giulia De Luca, from Rome, acknowledged that 'waking up was a bit tough,' but that she was looking forward to seeing the pope again. 'It will be very nice to conclude a very intense week together. Definitely a lot of fun, but also very challenging in many ways,' she said. Barry reported from Milan
San Francisco Chronicle
11 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
'God understands us': Inside a Nigerian church where deaf people find faith and community
People interact using sign language during a church service at the Christian Mission for the Deaf in Lagos, Nigeria, Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sunday Alamba/AP Remi Akinremi, a pastor, preaches using sign language during a church service at the Christian Mission for the Deaf in Lagos, Nigeria, Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sunday Alamba/AP A member of the choir uses sign language during a church service at the Christian Mission for the Deaf in Lagos, Nigeria, Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sunday Alamba/AP Imoh Udoka, a pastor, preaches using sign language during a church service at the Christian Mission for the Deaf in Lagos, Nigeria, Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sunday Alamba/AP A woman reads the bible during a church service at the Christian Mission for the Deaf in Lagos, Nigeria, Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sunday Alamba/AP LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — It is like any other church in Nigeria 's megacity of Lagos. A lectern faces rows of plastic chairs. A biblical quote is written on a beam above. There is a music section, with a set of drums. Sash-wearing church wardens move around to enforce order. But it is also different. For hours, the only sounds are exclamations and thunderous bursts of drums, with their vibrations the cues for when to pray, kneel or respond to the preacher's calls for 'Hallelujah.' This is a church for deaf people in Somolu, a mixed-income suburb, where about 50 to 60 people worship weekly. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Imoh Udoka, a father of two children, has attended the church for 36 years. He was 9 years old when he contracted meningitis, losing his hearing as well as access to his faith. Most churches in Nigeria do not have accommodation for deaf people. Then Udoka, now a teacher of sign language, discovered the church via community outreach. 'Here in this church, we have access to worship God in our sign language,' he told The Associated Press. 'God also understands us' Remi Akinrenmi is one of the pastors. Every Sunday, he mounts the pulpit with charismatic energy to preach in sign language. His big frame makes for a commanding presence. On one Sunday, he preached about the sinister consequences of jealousy. On another, he preached the importance of faith. Attendees waved their hands above their heads in response to 'Praise the Lord.' Advertisement Article continues below this ad Most important for Akinrenmi is that members see the church as a community. 'There was no community for us before the deaf church started," he said. 'Now, we see each other and say, 'Oh, you are deaf, too. I am also deaf.' And we are now together and have formed a community.' God understands every language, he said: "With sign language, God also understands us.' Disability advocates say that in the absence of inclusive churches and institutions, churches like this and a handful of affiliates in southern Nigeria are crucial, especially in African societies where the perception of people with disabilities is influenced by traditional beliefs. Some see a disability as a divine punishment. 'An exclusive space like this church offers them an opportunity for a safe space to be able to connect and relate,' said Treasures Uchegbu, founder of Speaking Fingers, a sign language advocacy group in Lagos. 'They can say, 'I am not a deaf person just standing alone, I have other deaf people around.'" Advertisement Article continues below this ad How the church came to be The church organizes evangelism outreach programs to other deaf communities in Lagos. It also runs a teaching unit for sign language, a vital tool for understanding the world better, according to Akinrenmi. Hearing children of church members also attend the classes to better relate to their parents and others, and some hearing students attend church services for immersion learning. The church started in 1956 in colonial Nigeria as the Christian Mission for Deaf Africans. In today's Nigeria, an estimated 10 million people out of the population of 220 million are deaf or have difficulty hearing. There is limited infrastructure in Nigeria for people with disabilities, and laws to improve their welfare and prevent discrimination are barely enforced. Efforts by advocates to push for more inclusive legislation have not materialized. They blame a lack of political will. Oluwakemi Oluwatoke-Ogunjirin, a 49-year-old worker with the Lagos state government, was born deaf. She attended hearing churches with her family but always felt lost. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Depending solely on public infrastructure in other parts of life, she struggles to get by. But at the church, she said, she has found a community where she can feel safe and understood. 'The church goes beyond faith; we have people like ourselves that we can talk to as friends,' Oluwatoke-Ogunjirin said. With the church's help, she has improved her sign language and can communicate widely, breaking the isolation she grew up with. 'The sign language makes life very easy for us," she said. 'It helps us communicate beyond the church.' ___ Advertisement Article continues below this ad For more on Africa and development: The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
