The crowd cheered when Leo emerged in his open-sided popemobile, with waves of young people running alongside him trying to keep up as he looped through the crowd. Some had spent the night on the ground, battling mosquitoes, to be in place for the late morning Mass, but said they were willing to make the sacrifice for the pope.

“I wanted to offer this effort to the pope, to show him that what he is doing and what he wants to accomplish should truly come to life,” said Alex Nzumo, who arrived at the Mass on crutches.

In his homily, delivered in French and English, Leo cited the biblical story of Jesus’ multiplication of loaves in urging young people to “multiply your talents through the faith, perseverance and friendship.”

“Be the first faces and hands that bring the bread of life to your neighbors, providing them with the food of wisdom and deliverance from all that does not nourish them, but rather obscures good desires and robs them of their dignity,” he said.

Leo urged them to look beyond the poverty and disillusionment many experience and instead look to the future with hope.

“Do not give in to distrust and discouragement,” he said. “Do not forget that your people are even richer than this land, for your treasure lies in your values: faith, family, hospitality and work.”

“Do not let yourselves be corrupted by temptations that waste your energies and do not serve the progress of society,” the pontiff said.

Later Friday back in the capital, Youande, Leo has an appointment with students, professors and administrators at the Catholic University of Central Africa.