During the months of July and August, I had the great grace of accompanying a number of young people and adolescents on two pilgrimages, one to Assisi, and the other to Rome during the Jubilee of Youth! 

The first group I accompanied to Assisi was the Prisms group, a group of adolescents who meet weekly for human and spiritual formation at the parish centre in San Ġwann. We met at the airport on Sunday, 20th July, and I could immediately see the excitement in their eyes. A readiness to embrace new experiences in their lives! We visited and prayed at many places associated with St Francis of Assisi, including the Basilica of St Francis, the Basilica of St Clare, Eremo delle Carceri, and La Verna, among others. Two particularly powerful moments that I believe will leave a lasting mark on the hearts of these adolescents were our time of prayer at the Sanctuary where the body of Blessed Carlo Acutis lies, and our silent prayer in the chapel at Eremo delle Carceri, where St Francis spent months in prayer with his first followers. I am convinced that our days in Assisi will bear fruit in the years to come.

A few weeks later, from 28th July to 3rd August, Fr Jethro Bajada and I accompanied two other young people to Rome for the Youth Jubilee. The words of Pope Leo during the vigil at Tor Vergata still echo in our hearts and minds: “Dear young people! Jesus is our hope!” We saw a Church that is beautiful, alive, and young! What a joy to see thousands of young people singing, dancing, clapping; so full of life and faith! Young people from all over the world who, like us, love Jesus and His Church. One especially powerful moment was the penitential celebration at Circo Massimo, where long queues of young people waited patiently to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We will never forget the Eucharistic Adoration in silence late at night, together with Pope Leo; thousands gathered in total stillness. Our hearts are full of hope and gratitude for everything the Lord has done in us and in His Church. Viva Pope Leo! Viva Jesus!

Fr Ryan Dalli OFMCap