Watching the live broadcast of the vigil in Tor Vergata on the outskirts of Rome, and seeing those images of an immense multitude, you can’t help but wonder: what did the million young people come here to find? Was it to be close to Pope Leo XIV? That doesn’t seem like sufficient motivation to me. To get to know Rome? Maybe, but they would surely not have chosen that kind of accommodation, food and transport. The answer was found in the deep and prolonged silence during the hour of adoration. These young men and women from all over the world were attracted by Jesus, perhaps without even knowing it, to a personal and communitarian encounter, where He undoubtedly spoke to the heart of each one who returns home changed, with a stronger faith, with an experience of the divine that they will never forget.
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The Jubilee week dedicated to young people began on 28 July and ended on Sunday 3 August 2025. Many activities were organised to welcome those who came to Rome for these days – visits to historical sites, to the basilicas, cultural events, concerts and catechesis.
The Focolare Movement also offered four special itineraries in Rome following the Pilgrimage of the Seven Churches, conceived by St. Philip Neri: a historical itinerary that has accompanied pilgrims since the 16th century. It was a journey of faith and fraternal communion, consisting of prayer, songs and reflections on Christian life, with group activities, catechesis and testimonies, aided by a booklet of meditations to go into spiritual depth in the light of the charism of unity. The large group that took part in the programme consisted of young people who spoke English, Hungarian, Dutch, Italian, German, Romanian, Korean, Spanish and Arabic.
The entire ‘journey’ was based on four key ideas: pilgrimage (a journey), the holy door (an opening), hope (looking ahead) and reconciliation (making peace).
“Hope” is the word that echoed in Samaher’s testimony, a 28-year-old Syrian woman: “My childhood years were painful, dark and lonely. Home wasn’t a safe place for a child because of the conflicts, nor was society, because of bullying. I faced everything alone, unable to share it with anyone, even attempting suicide in secret due to severe depression and fear. The Gospel changed me. After the life within me had died and everything had become dark… the Gospel gave me back the light.”
The catechesis took place at the Focolare meeting point and was led by Tommaso Bertolasi (philosopher), Anna Maria Rossi (linguist) and Luigino Bruni (economist). “Isn’t a gaze that starts from love and arouses love the most concrete face of hope?” was the provocative question posed by Anna Maria Rossi to the young pilgrims.
José, an 18-year-old from Panama, confirmed this in the testimony he shared about the period of his illness: “My experience shows that when you put the art of loving into practice, which consists in seeing Jesus in everyone, loving everyone, loving your enemies, loving as yourself, loving one another… not only does your life change but other people’s lives change too. It was precisely this art of loving, which many people shared with me, that created a balance that was so strong it helped me not to collapse in difficult moments, supporting and strengthening me through every obstacle I encountered.”
Laís from Brazil also did not hide the challenges she faced because of her parents’ separation: “There were times when I didn’t understand why they lived apart, and I wanted them to be together again. However, when I became more aware of what had happened between them, I was able to ask sincere questions, and neither of them hid the truth. This helped me to accept the reality of our family. Today they have a friendly relationship with one another and this, for me, is an example of maturity, forgiveness and true love, which goes beyond difficulties and mistakes. Starting again is possible when we really put ourselves out there.”
Pope Leo made several unscheduled appearances and gave unscheduled greetings, such as when, at the welcome Mass, he wanted to be present at the conclusion by travelling in the “popemobile” through St. Peter’s Square and the Via della Conciliazione packed with young people, to greet them. Speaking spontaneously, he said: ‘We hope that all of you will always be signs of hope. (…) May we always walk together with our faith in Jesus Christ, and may our cry also be for peace in the world.”
Then, on Saturday 2 August, as nature offered a magnificent sunset, responding to questions from young people in Tor Vergata, he reiterated his appeal: “Dear young people, love one another! Love one another in Christ. Know how to see Jesus in others. Friendship can truly change the world. Friendship is a pathway to peace ”. He then added: ’To be free, we must start from a stable foundation, from the rock that supports our steps. This rock is a love that precedes us, surprises us and surpasses us infinitely: it is the love of God. (…) We find happiness when we learn to give ourselves, to give our lives for others.” And he pointed out the way to follow Jesus: ’Do you truly want to encounter the Risen Lord? Listen to his word, which is the Gospel of salvation! Seek justice, renewing your way of life, to build a more humane world! Serve the poor, witnessing to the good that we would always like to receive from our neighbour!”
During Sunday Mass, Pope Leo XIV told the young people that we are made “for an existence that is constantly regenerated in giving, in love. And it is in this way that we continually aspire to a “something more” that no created reality can give us; we feel such a great and burning thirst that no drink in this world can quench it.” He concluded his homily with a heartfelt invitation: “Dear young people, our hope is Jesus. (…) Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less.”
In his farewell address, he described these days as “a cascade of grace for the Church and for the whole world.” He reiterated his cry for peace: “We are with the young people (…) from every land bloodied by war. (…) You are the sign that a different world is possible: a world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are addressed not with weapons but with dialogue.”
A companion by your side
This unique and unrepeatable experience of the 2025 Youth Jubilee has come to an end. On this incredible journey, we walked, sang and walked, danced, rejoiced and walked, prayed, laughed and walked… driven by a common goal and many travelling companions. Yes, because beyond the wonderful programme that enriched us culturally and spiritually, the image of thousands of young people like us walking will remain forever etched in our minds. Perhaps if we had asked some of them what their destination was, they would have replied something like: “We’re going to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore” or “We’re finally going to rest”, but I am equally convinced that if we had also asked them how they were doing it, they would have told us with eyes full of energy about the songs they sang, the young people they made friends with and the fullness of spirit that this walking together gave them. After all, for us, the Jubilee was just that: a journey like no other, in a city like no
other, where the dreams, hopes, joys and sorrows of a sea of people come together, where even if you walk alone, you still have a companion by your side, where the world is both tiny and immense, where everything cries out for Unity. We return home with a memory that will not easily fade, the memory of a United World that takes each other by the hand and walks, with heads held high and hearts filled with a greater spirit.
The joy of the early Christians – which can be experienced in every century, wherever people understand and sincerely live the essential truths of Christianity – the joy of the early Christians was something totally new, a joy they had never experienced before. It had nothing to do with laughter, cheerfulness or being light-hearted. As Paul VI said – it was not merely “the exultant joy of being alive,” with “the peaceful joy of nature and silence.” … It wasn’t that. These are all wonderful examples of joy.
But the joy of the early Christians was different. It was similar to the exhilarating joy of the disciples when the Holy Spirit descended on them.
It was the joy of Jesus. For just as Jesus has his peace, he also has his joy.
The joy of the early Christians sprang forth spontaneously from the depths of their being and truly satisfied them.
They had found what people in the past, in the present and in all times are always searching for. They had found God; they had found communion with God. They were totally satisfied by him, totally fulfilled as human beings.
In fact, Christ pours love, charity, into the hearts of Christians through baptism and the other sacraments, and love can be compared to a tiny plant. The deeper its roots go down – that is, the more we love our neighbours – the higher the stem grows upwards towards heaven. In other words, the more we love our neighbours, the more our heart is filled with the love of God. And this communion, this love, is not something we believe on faith alone. We experienced it. This is true happiness, this is real happiness – to love and feel that you are loved.
This was the happiness of the early Christians. This was the joy of the early Christians, both adults and young people, like all of you. They expressed their joy in wonderful, liturgical celebrations filled with hymns of praise and thanksgiving.
On the occasion of the Jubilee of Youth, from 29th July – 1st August 2025, the young people of the Focolare Movement are offering a special programme for fellow pilgrims: four days of spirituality, sharing, testimonies, prayer, catechesis, fun and walking together!
It is a unique opportunity to set out on a journey through places full of history and spirituality, meeting many people along the way and growing in faith and hope.
Each day is built around a key word, a stop that includes a time for reflection and prayer and a spiritual focus rooted in the Focolare charism of unity, with testimonies and songs so that the Jubilee of Youth may be lived as a journey based on 4 key ideas: pilgrimage (a journey), holy door (an opening), hope (looking forward) and reconciliation (making peace). For those who wish, there will be catechetical sessions at the Focolare meeting point led by Tommaso Bertolasi (philosopher), Anna Maria Rossi (linguist) and Luigino Bruni (economist).
The Pilgrimage to the Seven Churches
The programme follows the historical itinerary used by pilgrims since the 16th century. The Pilgrimage of the Seven Churches was designed by St. Philip Neri. It is a journey of faith and fraternal communion, made up of prayer, songs and reflections on the Christian life.
The stages of this pilgrimage are seven symbolic places in Rome: the Basilicas of: St. Sebastian, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, St Peter’s, St. Laurence, the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and St. John Lateran. The total route is 20 kms. Over the centuries, thousands of young people and adults have engaged in this experience. Participants will also join the main events of the Jubilee of Youth, including: the moment of reconciliation at the Circus Maximus and the meetings with Pope Leo XIV during the vigil and at the final Mass at Torvergata which was the location of the vigil and the Youth Mass of the Jubilee of 2000. For those who can stay longer, on 4th August, there’s an opportunity to visit the International Centre of the Focolare in Rocca di Papa
This programme offers many opportunities to experience the Jubilee, to discover Rome and to live a moment of deep faith and spirituality together. Along the route, each participant will receive a Pilgrim’s Passport. In every church they visit, they’ll be invited to write a single word describing what they experienced or what struck them most. At the end, this will become a unique keepsake of their journey.
According to the calendar of major events for the Jubilee of Hope 2025, the Jubilee for Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly will take place from 30th May- 1st June and the Jubilee for Young People will take place from 28th July-3rd August. These will be two major events that will bring thousands of people from all over the world to Rome.
For the occasion, the Focolare Movement is offering several itineraries to provide opportunities to get to know more about the spirituality of unity and the lives of some witnesses of hope. In particular, a multi-stop tour for young people has been created around Italy entitled Youth and Holiness. We interviewed Paola Torelli and Lais Alexandre Pessoa from the Movement’s Youth Centres to find out more.
Let’s start with the Youth Jubilee: where did the idea of the “Young People and Holiness” tour come from?
The Youth Jubilee is a unique opportunity to set out on a journey, both physically in Rome and in other jubilee locations around the world. This journey is not just about visiting places, but above all it is an experience of encounter with God and with many witnesses of hope, whose lives can help us grow in faith and hope. Hence the idea of Young People and Holiness, a journey in the company of some witnesses of hope, for all the young people participating in the Jubilee at the end of July.
Genoa to getto know more about two friends Alberto Michelotti and Carlo Grisolia, now servants of God (info@albertoecarlo.it)
Loppiano (Florence), the international little town of the Focolare, to meet some of today’s witnesses of hope.(accoglienza@loppiano.it)
Assisi to discover the life and witness of saint Carlo Acutis, who will be canonised on 27th April 2025 as part of the Jubilee of Adolescents. (Youth Hospitality Program)
Rome for a journey in stages based on the four key words of the Jubilee: Pilgrimage and Profession of Faith, Holy Door, Hope, Reconciliation. The route will follow the traditional itinerary of the Seven Churches, accompanied by a spiritual guideline.
4th August, visit to the International Centre of the Focolare (Rocca di Papa). Visitors can take a guided tour to gain a deeper understanding of the charism of unity and the life story of the founder Chiara Lubich, whose body is buried there. (accoglienza@focolare.org)
Can you choose only one stage or is it one complete journey that includes all the stops?
The proposed stages are independent, each group or person can choose which ones to participate in or, if possible, follow the entire route. Contact details are provided for each stop regarding programs and visits.
Are there any other initiatives for young people?
Every month, at the Focolare Meeting Point in Rome there is a gathering entitled Call to one hope – Young people on the Journey. Together with some other Movements and Associations, we offer a chance to nurture and strengthen “hope” through shared testimonies, reflection, silence, and prayer. It’s an experience of mutual discovery. Preparing these events together with the other Movements and Associations helps us grow and become ever more the Church.
Let’s move on now to the Jubilee for Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly at the end of May: what does Focolare propose?
There will be two events on Friday, 30th May. They are interactive routes to deepen the Jubilee of Hope, designed for families with children and young people up to the age of 12, They include reflections and games suitable for that age group. The first will take place at the Focolare International Centre where participants can visit several significant places, such as the house where Chiara Lubich lived and the chapel where she is buried, together with the co-founders of the Movement. The second event will take place in Rome in several churches and significant places, starting from the Focolare Meeting Point.
