Hundreds of thousands of young Catholics poured into a vast field on Rome’s outskirts Saturday for the weekend highlight of the Vatican’s 2025 Holy Year: an evening vigil, outdoor slumber party and morning Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV that marks his first big encounter with the next generation of Catholics.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the Pope privately met with the group of pilgrims on Saturday morning to give spiritual comfort to the young people left shaken by the tragic event.

Pope Leo XIV addressed a massive crowd of about one million people at a Catholic youth vigil on Saturday, the Vatican said. It’s the pontiff’s biggest event since his election in May. NBC News’ Claudio Lavanga reports from Rome.