In a powerful event at St. Peter’s Square, 40,000 young Italians gathered for the Jubilee of Youth, where Cardinals Matteo Zuppi and Pierbattista Pizzaballa emphasized peace and unity.
Some 40,000 young Italians convened in St. Peter’s Square for the “You Are Peter” Jubilee event dedicated to peacemaking. The participants engaged with messages from Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
As evening descended, the event included music, Scripture readings, and moving faith testimonies, all underlining the Church’s spiritual solidarity with those experiencing conflict. Cardinal Zuppi began with an embrace for the attendees, expressing the Church’s joy and trust in the vibrancy and sincerity of their lives.
During his homily, Cardinal Zuppi cited a message from Cardinal Pizzaballa and a passage from the Gospel of Matthew, stressing the urgent need for humanity to end wars. He evoked the “mad crosses” of warfare, condemning weaponry that annihilates life, including the sacred spaces of hospitals. The Church, he lamented, stands under these crosses, bearing witness to immense suffering while committing to peace.
Zuppi referenced Pope Leo XIII’s call for peace that is both “unarmed and disarming,” urging, “Let us disarm our hearts, so we can disarm the hearts and hands of a violent world—to heal its wounds and prevent new conflicts!” His address warned against the normalization of enmity and the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons.
In a videomessage from Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa addressed the severe famine gripping Gaza, noting faith’s role amidst enduring devastation. He acknowledged the reality of pain but called for consolation and comfort in response. The Patriarch highlighted those in Gaza and Israel who serve as “bearers of light,” opting for unity over isolation.
Pizzaballa commended the charities, religious figures, and volunteers—representing diverse faiths—who are striving to restore hope. These efforts, he noted, embody the spirit of Jubilee, illustrating resilience in regions marked by conflict. “We need to look to them,” he advised, preparing for the reconstruction of physical and social structures.
Both Cardinals emphasized that the Church must actively engage in these challenges through persistent dialogue and, when necessary, difficult conversations, echoing the missions of the Apostles. Like Peter receiving the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, believers are called to be architects of trust and opportunity.
The event underscored a shared vision for peace, challenging participants to contribute towards a world where unity and compassion triumph over division and strife.
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