Youth Jubilee Rome Pilgrims On Grindr

The Jubilee of Youth in Rome: A Spiritual Gathering Overshadowed by Modern Temptations

From July 28 to August 3, 2025, Rome hosted the Jubilee of Youth, a monumental event within the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year, drawing over a million young Catholics from 146 countries to celebrate faith, hope, and unity. 

This vibrant gathering, marked by Masses, prayer vigils, and cultural activities across iconic sites like St. Peter’s Square, Circus Maximus, and Tor Vergata, was intended to deepen the spiritual lives of young pilgrims. However, beneath the surface of this sacred event, a troubling trend has emerged, echoing patterns observed at previous World Youth Day gatherings: some young attendees are using hookup apps like Grindr to arrange casual encounters, exploiting the freedom of being away from home and parental supervision. This raises serious questions about the Church’s ability to guide its youth in understanding and living out its teachings on morality and sexuality.[](https://www.catholicarena.com/latest/2025/8/5/jubilee-of-youth-draws-1-million-to-rome)[](https://www.turismoroma.it/en/events/jubilee-youth-world-youth-day-2025)

 A Celebration of Faith and Youth

The Jubilee of Youth was a powerful expression of the Church’s commitment to its younger generation. With events spanning a week, young pilgrims participated in a rich program that included a Welcome Mass in St. Peter’s Square, penitential days at Circus Maximus, and a culminating prayer vigil and Mass with Pope Leo XIV at Tor Vergata. The event was designed to foster spiritual growth, community, and a renewed sense of mission, with Pope Leo XIV urging young people to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” The enthusiasm was palpable, with reports describing “electric” scenes and an outpouring of joy among the million-strong crowd.[](https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/pellegrinaggio/calendario-giubileo/GrandiEventi/Giubileo-dei-Giovani.html)[](https://www.catholicarena.com/latest/2025/8/5/jubilee-of-youth-draws-1-million-to-rome)[](https://www.catholicarena.com/latest/2025/8/5/jubilee-of-youth-draws-1-million-to-rome)

Yet, for all its spiritual promise, the Jubilee of Youth, much like World Youth Day, has become an unintended backdrop for behaviors that clash with the Church’s moral teachings. The freedom of being far from home, coupled with the absence of parental oversight, has led some young attendees to view these events as opportunities for more than just spiritual enrichment.

 The Misuse of Freedom: Grindr and Hookup Culture

According to our sources in Rome who contributed to a blog post in the past on Sacerdotus.com, a Catholic commentary site, there have been reports of young people using Grindr and similar apps during World Youth Day events to arrange hookups, a trend that appears to have carried over to the Jubilee of Youth. The post highlights how the lack of parental supervision, combined with the excitement of being in a new city surrounded by peers, creates an environment where some young Catholics stray from the Church’s teachings on chastity and sexuality. The anonymity and accessibility of apps like Grindr make it easy for individuals to connect for casual encounters, often under the radar of event organizers and chaperones.

This phenomenon is not new. At World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, which drew an estimated 3 million young people, similar concerns were raised about the misuse of such apps. The Jubilee of Youth, with its massive turnout and festive atmosphere, likely amplified these opportunities. Young pilgrims, many of whom are in their late teens to early thirties, are navigating a world where hookup culture is normalized, and apps provide instant access to like-minded individuals. The absence of direct supervision—whether from parents or local parish leaders—can embolden some to prioritize fleeting pleasures over the spiritual goals of the pilgrimage.[](https://www.catholicarena.com/latest/2025/8/5/jubilee-of-youth-draws-1-million-to-rome)

Here are screenshots from the Grindr app sent to us by a youth pilgrim in Rome. They show those using Grindr in the Vatican with only openly and boldy stating that he is "Here to help visitors celebrate Jubilee of youth with an afterparty ahaaha.."  The young gay Catholic seeks males ages 19-39.  This is disturbing and disgusting!

The Church’s Teachings on Morality and Sexuality

The Catholic Church’s teachings on sexuality are clear: sexual activity is reserved for marriage between a man and a woman, reflecting God’s design for love, fidelity, and procreation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes chastity as a virtue for all, calling Catholics to live out their sexuality in a way that honors God and respects human dignity (CCC 2337-2359). Homosexual acts, as noted in a 2005 Vatican instruction, are considered “intrinsically disordered,” and the Church calls for those with homosexual tendencies to live chastely, supported by pastoral care.

However, the Sacerdotus.com post suggests that many young Catholics attending these events are either unaware of or indifferent to these teachings. This ignorance or disregard may stem from a broader cultural shift, where secular values around sexuality—promoted through media, technology, and peer influence—often overshadow the Church’s countercultural message. The allure of instant gratification through apps like Grindr can be particularly strong for young people who are exploring their identities or seeking connection in an unfamiliar setting.

 The Church’s Response: A Call for Action

The Church faces a critical challenge: how to address this misuse of its events while continuing to engage young people effectively. The Jubilee of Youth’s success in drawing millions shows that young Catholics are hungry for faith and community. Yet, the presence of hookup culture at these events signals a need for stronger formation and oversight. Here are several steps the Church could take to address this issue:[](https://www.catholicarena.com/latest/2025/8/5/jubilee-of-youth-draws-1-million-to-rome)

1. Enhanced Catechesis on Sexuality: The Church must prioritize robust, age-appropriate education on its teachings about sexuality and morality before and during events like the Jubilee of Youth. Workshops, talks, and small-group discussions could help young pilgrims understand the “why” behind the Church’s teachings, presenting chastity as a positive and liberating choice rather than a restriction. Integrating these teachings into the event’s spiritual programming—perhaps through testimonies or reflections—could make them more relatable.

2. Stronger Chaperoning and Accountability: While the Jubilee of Youth involves significant logistical planning, including safety and transportation, there appears to be less focus on monitoring attendees’ activities outside formal events. Parishes and dioceses sending groups to Rome should ensure adequate chaperoning and clear behavioral expectations. Regular check-ins and structured group activities can help minimize opportunities for unsupervised behavior.[](https://www.romereports.com/en/2025/07/23/everything-you-need-to-know-about-attending-the-youth-jubilee/)

3. Pastoral Care for Struggling Youth: The Church must offer compassionate, non-judgmental support for young people grappling with questions of sexuality or identity. Pope Leo XIV’s welcoming approach, as noted by the rector of his cathedral, emphasizes ministering to all while upholding traditional teachings. Confession and spiritual direction, already key components of the Jubilee, could be tailored to address these struggles, providing guidance and encouragement to live chastely.[](https://www.romereports.com/en/2025/07/24/what-will-the-jubilee-for-young-people-be-like/)

4. Engaging with Technology: The Church cannot ignore the role of technology in shaping young people’s behavior. Rather than demonizing apps like Grindr, the Church could develop its own digital platforms to foster authentic connections among pilgrims—perhaps through forums or apps like Iubilaeum25, which already provides event information. These platforms could promote faith-based friendships and discussions, countering the pull of hookup apps.[](https://secretroma.com/en/youth-jubilee/)

5. Modeling Joyful Faith: The enthusiasm of the Jubilee of Youth, with its music, testimonies, and communal worship, shows that young people respond to vibrant expressions of faith. The Church should continue to create spaces where young Catholics feel seen, valued, and inspired to live out their faith fully, reducing the temptation to seek fulfillment elsewhere.[](https://www.catholicarena.com/latest/2025/8/5/jubilee-of-youth-draws-1-million-to-rome)

 A Path Forward

The Jubilee of Youth 2025 was a testament to the vitality of the young Church, with millions gathering to celebrate their faith under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV. Yet, the reports of some attendees using Grindr to arrange hookups, as highlighted by Sacerdotus.com, reveal a disconnect between the Church’s vision and the reality for some young pilgrims. This is not a reason to despair but a call to action. By strengthening catechesis, supervision, and pastoral care, the Church can help its youth navigate the challenges of modern culture while embracing the joy and freedom of living according to God’s plan.[](https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/popes-and-young-people-jubilee-of-youth-5985)

As Pope Leo XIV reminded the young pilgrims, “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). The Church has an opportunity to guide its youth toward a hope rooted in authentic love and holiness, ensuring that events like the Jubilee of Youth remain true pilgrimages of faith, not detours into temptation.[](https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/popes-and-young-people-jubilee-of-youth-5985)

Sources:

- Sacerdotus.com Sacerdotus: Libidinous Youth at World Youth Day 2023 Seeking Sexual Hookups on Gay App Grindr

- Catholic Arena, “Jubilee of Youth Draws 1 Million to Rome”[](https://www.catholicarena.com/latest/2025/8/5/jubilee-of-youth-draws-1-million-to-rome)

- Turismo Roma, “Jubilee of Youth - World Youth Day 2025”[](https://www.turismoroma.it/en/events/jubilee-youth-world-youth-day-2025)

- EWTN Vatican, “The Popes and Young People: Jubilee of Youth”[](https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/popes-and-young-people-jubilee-of-youth-5985)

- Vatican News, “Rome, city of hope: The sites of the Jubilee of Youth”[](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-08/rome-city-of-hope-the-sites-of-the-jubilee-of-youth.html)

- X posts on Pope Leo XIV’s engagement with youth