Jubilee of Movements, Associations and New Communities: 80,000 pilgrims greet Pope Leo XIV

More than 80,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square to celebrate the Jubilee of Movements, Associations and New Communities at a Pentecost Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV. The previous day, Saturday 7 June, over 70,000 members of the faithful participated in a Pentecost Vigil, united in prayer around the Holy Father.

At the Saturday Vigil, after an afternoon of music and testimonies, Pope Leo spoke of the importance of synodality as the only way in which all creation acquires meaning. He said: "Dear friends, God created the world so that we could be together. ‘Synodality’ is the ecclesial name for this awareness. It is the path that asks every person to recognize their own debt and their own treasured gift, feeling part of a whole, outside of which everything withers, even the most original of charisms. You see, all of creation is something that exists ‘together’, sometimes it can be dangerous, but still it exists as something ‘together’. And what we call ‘history’ takes shape only by coming together, of living together, often with disagreements, but still living together. The opposite is deadly, but unfortunately we can see it before our very eyes, every day. May your groupings and communities then be training grounds of fraternity and participation, not only as places of encounter, but also as places of spirituality. The Spirit of Jesus changes the world because it changes peoples’ hearts. In fact, it inspires that contemplative dimension of life that works against self-serving, criticizing, the spirit of contention, the exploitation of consciences and resources. The Lord is the Spirit and where there is the Spirit of the Lord there is freedom. Authentic spirituality therefore commits us to integral human development, making the word of Jesus alive and present among us. Where this happens, there is joy. Joy and hope.”

During the Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Holy Father emphasized the importance for the Church of promoting mutual understanding and building bridges rather than barriers: "At Pentecost the doors of the cenacle open because the Spirit opens borders. As Benedict XVI states: ‘The Holy Spirit gives us understanding. He overcomes the rupture that began at Babel - the confusion of hearts, which sets us against each other - and opens borders. [...] The Church must always become anew what she already is: she must open borders between peoples and break down barriers between classes and races. In her there can be neither forgotten nor despised. In the Church there are only free brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.’”