Pope Leo XIV holds Jubilee of Youth at the Vatican

VATICAN CITY (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - Pope Leo XIV is welcoming more than a half-a-million young people to the Vatican this week for the Jubilee of Youth.

Americans are among pilgrims from nearly 150 countries who've traveled to Rome for the event. Pope Leo will lead prayer services, confessions, and a Sunday mass during the weeklong celebration.

"Very excited to see Pope Leo and to grow in my faith as we come here on pilgrimage," said Antonio Tucci, a pilgrim from Canada.

"The youth are the next generation. We are the next generation, the new hope for Christianity, for Catholicism. And it's such a blessing and it's such an amazing time to be a young person in the Jubilee," said Isaac Rodriguez, a pilgrim from the U.S.

Young people passed through the holy door of St. Peter's Basilica, a tradition that represents a renewed connection to their faith.

The gathering only happens every 25 years as part of the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year.