An outdoor electronic music event was held in front of St. Elisabeth Cathedral in Košice, Slovakia, to celebrate the Jubilee of Young People and the archbishop's birthday. The event featured a Mass and a performance by Father Guilherme Peixoto, a Portuguese priest and electronic music DJ. Pope Leo XIV did not attend the event but appeared via a prerecorded video message. The event was organized by the Archdiocese of Košice.
20 days ago
Social media buzzed last week with sensational reports alleging that Pope Leo XIV hosted a rave outside St. Elisabeth Cathedral in Košice, Slovakia.
These stories featured images of laser lights, electronic dance music, and a priest acting as DJ, sparking widespread online discussion.1 2
The gathering was an outdoor electronic music event held on November 8, 2025, organized by the Archdiocese of Košice.
It celebrated the Jubilee of Young People and Archbishop Bernard Bober's 75th birthday, beginning with a Mass led by Bober, president of the Slovakian Episcopal Conference, alongside Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Nicola Girasoli.1 2
The event aimed to bridge faith and youth culture, promoting inclusion, tolerance, and respect through music and dance.1 2
Father Guilherme Peixoto, a 51-year-old Portuguese priest and electronic music DJ, headlined the performance with a blend of techno and spiritual tracks.
Peixoto, who previously performed at the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, described electronic music as a tool to "build a better world."
Local Catholic leaders from Košice attended, and the crowd consisted mainly of young people from various nations.1 2
Pope Leo XIV did not attend the event in person or host it.
He contributed a prerecorded video message displayed on large LED screens, greeting the youth and offering an apostolic blessing that emphasized faith, fraternity, and peace through Christ.1 2
Fragments of the pope's message, including an "amen," were incorporated into Peixoto's DJ set, which featured an unreleased track titled "Dear Young People."1 2
The Vatican endorsed the event as a way to engage young people as "bridge builders" in faith.1 2
However, hands-on organization and hosting were managed by local clergy, the Archdiocese of Košice, and Father Peixoto, not the pope.1 2
Claims that Pope Leo "threw" or hosted the rave are exaggerated and misleading.
While his message and blessing were integral to the celebration, which included lasers lighting up the cathedral and dancing crowds, the pope neither participated physically nor served as DJ.1 2
The event successfully fused modern youth culture with Catholic traditions, but viral narratives overstated papal involvement.1 2
How does the Catholic Church define appropriate liturgical celebrations for youth?
The Catholic Church views liturgical celebrations for youth as essential opportunities for encountering Christ, fostering spiritual growth, and integrating young people into the life of the faith community. Drawing from papal teachings and documents, these celebrations are defined by their dignity, emphasis on active participation, joyfulness that resonates with youthful experiences, and unwavering fidelity to the sacred rites. They serve not only as worship but as a pathway to evangelization, vocational discernment, and a deeper union with God, ensuring that youth are formed as active members of the Church rather than passive observers.
At the heart of appropriate liturgical celebrations for youth is a profound respect for the sacred mysteries, which must be conveyed through reverent and majestic worship. The Church calls for the careful selection and training of young people, particularly boys, to serve at the altar, emphasizing zeal, exactness, and constancy in their roles. This involvement is not merely functional but formative, helping youth appreciate the "majesty and beauty" of the ceremonies while drawing them into closest union with Christ the Priest. Such training extends beyond rubrics to a holistic appreciation of the liturgy's sanctity, ensuring that young participants develop a sense of awe and personal holiness.
For clerical students and youth in general, liturgical education parallels instruction in dogma and theology, aiming to cultivate ministers who perform rites "correctly and with due dignity." This dignity is inclusive, welcoming children and youth to the altar rails to offer their innocence and zeal to the Redeemer, especially through frequent reception of the Eucharist. The liturgy, in this view, is "above all the worship of the divine majesty," unleashing immense power in young lives when they recognize their role as a "royal priesthood." Youth are particularly sensitive to this truth, responding with enthusiasm when the liturgy's nobility is emphasized, leading to active roles that inspire vocations.
Pastoral leaders are urged to promote "dignified celebrations" tailored to different groups, including youth, so that all feel welcome in an atmosphere echoing the early Church's devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This reverence counters any superficial adaptations, ensuring the liturgy remains a source of true Christian spirit.
The Church insists on full, conscious, and active participation by youth in liturgical celebrations, viewing it as the "primary and indispensable source" of Christian vitality. This participation is not optional but essential, drawing youth into the Eucharistic sacrifice and sacraments as streams of divine grace. Documents highlight the need for youth to crowd the altar, receive Communion daily if possible, and engage in the divine praise that unites heaven and earth.
In practice, this means organizing celebrations where youth are protagonists, such as through altar service, communal prayer, and Eucharistic adoration. Young people should be invited to respond in the liturgy, fostering a sense of belonging and mission. The Eucharist becomes a communal anchor, strengthening ties of friendship and love among youth while nourishing their spirits through Scripture and the "liturgy of the Word." This leads naturally to the Eucharist lived "with the depth of young hearts" in community settings.
Pastoral care must structure youth ministry to include liturgical formation by age groups, providing opportunities for encounter, mutual listening, and an intense sacramental life. Bishops are encouraged to appoint youth chaplains to promote spiritual formation and apostolate through the liturgy, integrating it with Catholic schools, parishes, and youth groups. In this way, liturgical celebrations become spaces for youth to exercise their baptismal priesthood, offering praise and expiation in union with Christ.
Appropriate liturgical celebrations for youth must be "fresh, authentic, and joyful," speaking directly to their daily lives while highlighting the liturgical year's great moments like Holy Week, Pentecost, and Christmas. The Church recognizes youth's openness to contemplative prayer, silence, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, urging pastors to find "right ways and means" to guide them into these experiences. This joy emerges from the liturgy's ability to address youthful yearnings for God, transforming routine into encounters with divine mystery.
Flexibility is key in youth ministry, adapting celebrations to include conversing, singing, and shared stories alongside learning, without rigid schedules that deter participation. Yet, this authenticity must preserve timeless gifts like the Eucharist and Reconciliation, inviting youth to "drink from these wellsprings of new life" regardless of cultural shifts. The liturgy offers youth a "loving encounter" with Christ, where they contemplate Him in the breaking of bread and receive a mission to witness peace and love.
Masses for youth are explicitly encouraged as "excellent initiatives," provided they avoid polemical tones against other forms of worship and do not alter the rite, texts, music, or homilies under the pretext of modern adaptation. Such celebrations unite rather than divide, fostering universality and the "sensus Ecclesiae." They should emphasize Christ's eternal youth as the "true hero" and companion, helping youth discover meaning amid contemporary challenges.
The Church cautions against "exaggerations and over-statements" in liturgical renewal that deviate from true doctrine, particularly when appealing to youth. While adaptations can make the liturgy accessible, they must not weaken its ritual integrity or introduce novelties that dilute its sacred character. For instance, youth Masses should maintain proper duration, homilies, and elements to avoid impoverishing the faith patrimony.
In protecting youth, pastoral guidelines stress prudence in liturgical activities: workers must model positive behavior, ensure visibility, respect privacy, and obtain parental consent for any imaging or filming. Inappropriate actions, like establishing preferential relationships or offensive language, are strictly forbidden. These measures ensure celebrations remain safe spaces for spiritual growth, addressing any bullying or risks promptly.
The liturgy's link to evangelization demands balance; unbalanced renewals compromise mission, while a missionary vision prevents mere external changes. Youth are called to experience the liturgy as liberating, not constraining, revealing Christ's face of love and hope.
Ultimately, liturgical celebrations for youth are missionary in essence, sending them forth as "Ite, missa est" implies—to evangelize the world. They form youth as agents of the Gospel, countering superficial cultural values with demanding Christian choices rooted in sacraments. By participating, youth discover Christ's presence, fueling vocations and societal transformation.
The Church entrusts youth ministry to Mary, illuminating their path through liturgy's hope and silence. These celebrations invest in the Church's future, preparing youth for family, vocation, and witness.
In summary, the Catholic Church defines appropriate liturgical celebrations for youth as reverent, participatory, joyful encounters with Christ that remain faithful to tradition while speaking to contemporary lives. They form hopeful disciples, guarding against excesses to ensure authentic worship that evangelizes and sanctifies.