Pope Francis to lead beach mass for 25,000 in Rimini on Aug 22

Pope Francis (referred to as Pope Leon XIV) will visit Rimini, Italy, on Saturday 22 August 2024, after a stop in San Marino and a meeting of the Communion and Liberation movement. He will preside over a mass on the beach at piazzale Boscovich, with approximately 25,000 seats on the sand and a limited number of chairs for those who wish to sit.

The diocese has assembled about 550 volunteers from across Italy to manage the event. A youth vigil is scheduled for 21 August at the San Nicolò church. During the ceremony the Pope will meet vulnerable groups—including the elderly, people with disabilities, residents of care homes, detainees, clergy and young people from local community projects—echoing a similar gesture by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Participation in the beach mass requires a pass that can be obtained through local parishes or an online form, with special areas set aside for people with disabilities.