Pope arrives by helicopter to enthusiastic faithful in Rome

Several hundred thousand young Catholics from around the world greeted the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, today as he arrived by helicopter for an open-air vigil near Rome, the final part of the Jubilee of Youth celebrations.

Agence France-Presse assessed that the reception for the new pope could be compared to the welcome given to rock stars.

Some believers cheered and others burst into tears as a white helicopter landed on the vast Tor Vergata promenade east of Rome, where young believers from 146 countries had gathered for the Youth Jubilee that began on Monday.

The first American pope in a popemobile smiled broadly and greeted enthusiastic crowds gathered along his route after spending the day listening to music, praying and interacting with other believers under the hot sun.

This gathering took place almost three months after the beginning of the pontificate of Leo XIV and 25 years after the Jubilee of 2000, when more than two million young people participated in World Youth Day at the request of Pope John Paul II.

The exact number of participants is not yet known, while the Vatican previously announced that it expects about a million believers.

Most of the crowd plans to spend the night on the promenade until the pope's final mass on Sunday morning, the culmination of the Jubilee celebrations, a "Holy Year" that the Roman Catholic Church marks every 25 years.

The leader of 1,4 billion Catholics is expected to preside over the vigil tonight, from a huge stage topped by a golden arch and an imposing cross, overlooking a vast esplanade, the size of about 70 football fields.

Organizing the event posed an extraordinary logistical challenge, with around 10.000 people deployed, including police and civil protection officials, and health measures, including the distribution of bottled water to help worshippers overcome the summer heat.