Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass before at least 25,000 faithful at the port of Rimini on Friday, closing a pastoral visit to the Communion and Liberation movement's annual Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples — the first papal appearance at the gathering since John Paul II in 1982. Nearly 60,000 people, mostly young, welcomed the pontiff to the Adriatic city, where he urged audiences to disarm technological development when it becomes destructive and to place people before borders and institutions.
Liguria President Marco Bucci, who met the pope after the Mass, called his address to young people a powerful message of hope. The visit, which also included a stop in San Marino, came as Italy faces migration pressures: Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said only three asylum seekers have been returned to Italy since the new EU migration pact took effect, even as several European states activate return mechanisms.