There was euphoria in the air, but a sense of something deeper, too. Something more profound. A joy, a sense of goodness, a shared love of something eternal.

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No matter how many times you’ve entered the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican in Rome, you’re always filled with a sense of nervous excitement, especially if you’re about to meet the Holy Father.

On Saturday morning, my wife Paola and I walked through the stunning hallways, surrounded by centuries-old art, led by the Swiss Guard and members of the Dicastery for Evangelization. Because Paola, who is a reporter for EWTN Noticias, was presenting a special segment on stage later that day in front of 1 million young people as part of the Jubilee of Youth, we had been invited for a short meeting with Pope Leo XIV.

Filled with anticipation, excitement and, naturally, a few nerves, we were led into the stunning Sala Clementina (Clementine Room) in the Apostolic Palace. This room is exquisite, housing some of the most breathtaking Renaissance frescoes and tapestries in the Vatican. As we waited for the Pope to enter, we looked around in awe at the intricate ceiling panels, the gilded walls, and the artwork surrounding us: a reminder of centuries of history, tradition and faith.

The head of protocol entered first, followed by more members of the Swiss Guard. And then there he was: Pope Leo XIV.

Approaching Paola and me, the Pope smiled warmly. Paola greeted him in Spanish, as she is from El Salvador. The Pope responded in the same language, one he would have mastered during his many years serving as a missionary in Peru. Paola then handed him a small wooden Nativity scene from Peru, which he seemed genuinely happy to receive. I stepped forward and told him I was from Ireland. “Oh, Ireland,” he said with a smile, as I shook his hand. I explained that we were both reporters working with EWTN and that it was an honor to be covering the Vatican and his pontificate.

Paola then told him we were recently married (around seven months) and asked for his blessing. “Would you like it in Spanish or English?” he laughed. I quickly said, “English,” with a wink.

And with that, we bowed our heads, and the Holy Father gave us his blessing. It was a beautiful moment, and we consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have been blessed in our young marriage by not one, but two, popes: Pope Francis and now Pope Leo XIV. That’s a privilege not many can claim.

Walking out of the Apostolic Palace into the throngs of people in St. Peter’s Square, it was hard to believe what had just happened. There’s a sense that you’re not worthy, or important enough, to have that experience, having such an intimate moment with the Holy Father. But there was no time to reflect too deeply. We headed straight to Tor Vergata, where 1 million young people were gathering to pray at the evening vigil with Pope Leo XIV as part of the Jubilee of Youth.

When I got there, I was stunned by the sheer size of the crowd. As far as the eye could see, there was a never-ending sea of people and flags waved in the air, pilgrims from every corner of the globe: Spanish groups singing as they walked past; French students sitting in circles on the grass; Americans waving flags as they set up tents. All young people. All there to pray and celebrate Mass.

What makes it so striking is that your mind automatically assumes they’re there for a music festival or a rock concert. That’s what the mainstream narrative tells us: Young people are disinterested in religion, disengaged from faith. So your brain keeps adjusting, trying to grasp the reality: All of these young people are here for their Catholic faith.

There was euphoria in the air, but a sense of something deeper, too. Something more profound. A joy, a sense of goodness, a shared love of something eternal.

One of the most amazing moments was that evening when Pope Leo’s helicopter touched down, kicking up dust into the golden light of the setting sun. When he took to the stage and welcomed the young people, they erupted into rapturous applause. You could really hear the presence of 1 million voices. But the most powerful moment came when he brought out the Eucharist, the Body of Christ. The entire open-air venue fell silent. Many dropped to their knees and closed their eyes in prayer.

Dominican Father Vincent Bernhard, the university chaplain at NYU, had been leading a group of young men from across the U.S. on a Frassati pilgrimage. We had been following them for an upcoming EWTN documentary. He told me he was moved by that moment: “It was so silent you could hear a pin drop. When I looked around, you could see everyone kneeling and looking in one direction. It was incredibly moving. Only the Pope could do that: Make everyone stop and look towards Jesus.”

As I spoke with more pilgrims that night, I kept hearing the same thing again and again: that, yes, they had come for fun, for community, out of curiosity; but on a deeper level, they had come looking for answers to some of life’s most profound questions. These are answers they’d been searching for in their careers, on social media, among their friends. But they were still searching. Many of them told me they believe there’s a resurgence happening among young Catholics and that Pope Leo, being relatively young himself and speaking openly about modern concerns, like artificial intelligence, divisive algorithms and social media, is resonating with them.

The following morning, during Sunday Mass, Pope Leo addressed the young people directly: “There is a burning question in our hearts, a need for truth that we cannot ignore, which leads us to ask ourselves: What is true happiness? What is the true meaning of life? … Jesus is our hope.”

Father Vincent was joined by 15 young men from across the United States, all following in the footsteps of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, soon to be declared a saint. They camped overnight at Tor Vergata and told me how much the experience had meant to them. 

William Kemp is 22 and from Gulf Breeze, Florida: “When we were walking in with all the other young people towards the gates, seeing all the countries flying their flags, really gave me a glimpse of the hope that’s there for the Church.” Another pilgrim, 19-year-old Marco Terrizzi from Illinois, had recently come into the faith. He told me: “This was sensational. I truly feel changed forever. I feel like I’ve found my forever home in the Catholic Church.”

And despite a little rain that night, the heat during the day, the lack of sleep, and the minimal food, the young people still seemed full of joy. 

And for me, it was a privilege to have met Pope Leo at the Vatican before watching him pray with 1 million young people. One of the most powerful things I heard him say over the weekend was: 

“Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less.”

This article was originally published on NCRegister.