In the grand setting of the Jubilee of Youth, Franciscan Youth gathered in Rome on July 31, 2025, at St. Matthias Church in the neighborhood of Monte Sacro Alto. A jubilee prayer meeting that united the Franciscan fraternities of Italy (Tuscany, Campania, Sicily, Lazio, Frascati, Sardinia) to the brothers from Spain, Lebanon, France, Mexico and Brazil, together with the local, regional, national and general spiritual assistants of OFM, OFMCap and TOR from Italy. With them also was a brother from the Philippines and some Franciscan sisters.
Before the prayer session, the International Councilor of YouFra, Felix Chocojay, presented each youth region. Afterwards, Br. GianPiero Ritrovato, OFMCap, national spiritual assistant, and Br. Pedro Zitha, OFM, general spiritual assistant, led the prayers.
The theme of the meeting was “With Francis, pilgrims of hope”; the reflection was based on the Scriptures and Franciscan sources (FF 802-803). The prayer session ended with some reflections and questions, a moment that allowed the young people to share their impressions with others.
The sign of peace followed, with songs of prayers and final blessings. After the prayer, everyone went to St. Peter’s Square for the prayer led by Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi.
Thus the young Franciscans participated in the events that during the entire week, from July 28 to August 3, saw them welcomed by the city of Rome for the great Jubilee of Youth. The streets of the city were flooded with a festive and joyful throng of young people arriving from over 140 countries, who gathered with Pope Leo XIV in Tor Vergata for the Vigil and the final Eucharistic Celebration, attended by a million faithful. After the Angelus, the Pontiff addressed these words of farewell to the young people: “Well, boys and girls, one last goodbye. Thank you all again! Thank you for the music, thank you to all those who worked to prepare so many things during this week, this Jubilee. We have already said that the next meeting will be in Korea. A round of applause for the many Koreans present! I ask you also to bring greetings to the many young people who were unable to come and be here with us, in so many countries from which it was impossible to leave. There are places from which young people could not come, for reasons we know. You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world: bring this greeting to all your friends, to all young people who need a message of hope. Thank you again to all of you! And have a safe journey!”
