From July 28 to August 3, around 200 Jesus Youth members from across the world joined the Jubilee of Young People in Rome, responding to the Holy Father’s call to be Pilgrims of Hope.
The Jubilee was inaugurated on July 28 with a Mass celebrated by His Excellency Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, Pro-Prefect for New Evangelization, Dicastery of Evangelization. The opening Mass was graced by the surprise arrival of the Holy Father, who greeted the youth and reminded them: “Jesus tells us: You are the salt of the earth! You are the light of the world!”
Throughout the week, Jesus Youth took part in pilgrimages and programs organized for the Jubilee, including visits to the Holy Doors of the four major basilicas (opened only during the Jubilee Year), prayers with the Taizé community, worship with Matt Maher, confessions at the Circus Maximus, and other encounters of prayer and faith.
On July 30, Jesus Youth had the privilege of animating a center during the Young Saints Pilgrimage in Rome at the Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle. The gathering focused on the life and witness of Blessed Ivan Merz, a young Croatian lay catechist, whose relic was also present. The day was filled with praise, worship, testimonies, and moments of prayer, drawing many Jubilee participants to join.
Another highlight was the Jesus Youth Pro-Life booth, set up in the heart of the Vatican. Led by the Pro-Life ministry, it featured interactive sessions, apologetics resources, touch-and-feel baby models, and prayer teams. The booth stood as a strong witness to the culture of life and the evangelizing mission of Jesus Youth.
The Jubilee culminated in a six-hour pilgrimage to Tor Vergata on August 2, where one million young Catholics gathered for the Night Vigil. The profound silence of one million kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament was a moving testimony to the living presence of Christ.
On August 3, the Jubilee concluded with the closing Mass. The Holy Father’s words left a deep imprint: “It is truly beautiful, especially at a young age, to open wide your hearts, to allow Him to enter, and to set out on this adventure with Him towards eternity.”
The blessed week ended with the Pope’s invitation to the next great gathering: World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea (August 3–8).
