On 26 July 2025, a group of young laypeople from London, accompanied by Sr Isabel Cantón, set off on a pilgrimage to the heart of the Catholic Church: Rome, to take part in the Youth Jubilee.
More than just a gathering, the Jubilee is a sacred time of grace and renewal in the life of the Church. For centuries, pilgrims have crossed the Holy Door as a sign of conversion and reconciliation. In this special Year of Jubilee, young people from every corner of the world were invited to come together, pray, reflect, and encounter Christ, alive in His Church and in each other.
For this group from the UK, it was a unique opportunity to walk, pray and live side by side with young Catholics from around the world. What follows is a day-by-day account of their experience, filled with moments of deep faith, discovery, and
The group arrived safely in Rome. After leaving the airport, they decided to take a taxi which brought them to their accommodation in just half an hour. They are staying at the General House of the Sisters Compassionist Servants of Mary, located on Via Appia Nuova 10009. The sisters received them warmly with a delicious meal.
After some rest, they celebrated the Eucharist at 5 p.m. and later joined the community for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Vespers. The young pilgrims were moved by the beauty of the sisters’ singing, which they later learned is part of their musical formation.
The evening continued with dinner and a joyful recreation, including guitar playing and songs. This house also hosts young women from various countries who come to Rome for studies.
The day began with Mass celebrated by a bishop, concelebrated with Fr Fulgencio. After breakfast, the group held a brief Lectio Divina and outlined the day.
In the afternoon, they collected their Jubilee pilgrim packs at the designated Vatican location. Then, in a spirit of prayer and recollection, they crossed the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica, prepared through a time of silent prayer and confession.
A guide led them on a meaningful tour of the Vatican, and though the area was crowded with pilgrims, the group was able to enter fully into the spiritual experience. They returned to their lodging around 9:45 p.m., grateful for God’s guidance throughout the day.
After Lauds, Mass, and breakfast, the group spent time in Lectio Divina and prayed a decade of the Rosary. They then set out early to explore various historic and religious sites in Rome.
Highlights included the Church of St Ignatius of Loyola and the Church of the Gesù, both rich in Jesuit heritage. They prayed in several other churches throughout the city centre and had lunch near the Trevi Fountain. In the afternoon, they visited the Colosseum and other nearby landmarks.
The group returned home around 9 p.m. for dinner, followed by a brief planning session and quiet prayer in the chapel. They ended the day full of gratitude for God’s protection.
The morning began with a visit to the Church of the Gesù, where the pilgrims prayed before the tomb of St Ignatius of Loyola on his feast day. Along the way, they stopped at the Church of the Holy Spirit, home to the official image of the Divine Mercy, as well as relics of St Faustina and St John Paul II. They joined the faithful and fellow youth in praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.
Later that day, they made their way to St Paul Outside the Walls, hoping to pray before the tomb of the Apostle. To their joyful surprise, the Basilica was filled with over 2,000 Spanish youth from Extremadura, gathered with their bishop and many priests and seminarians. The group stayed for Mass and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The group returned home around 9 p.m. for dinner, followed by a brief planning session and quiet prayer in the chapel. They ended the day full of gratitude for God’s protection.
The pilgrims travelled to Assisi with Monsignor Antony, Postulator of the cause for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis. There, they celebrated Mass in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament where Carlo is buried. In his homily, Monsignor Antony reflected on the lives of St Francis and Carlo Acutis, highlighting the five steps that guided Carlo to holiness:
At the end of the Mass, the bishop blessed the group with four relics and gave each person a rosary containing a relic of Carlo Acutis.
Afterwards, the group visited the Basilica of St Clare, praying before her tomb, and later the majestic Basilica of St Francis, where they prayed silently before the saint’s tomb and visited the adjoining chapels.
Their final stop in Assisi was the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, home to the Porziuncola. They joined the Franciscan community and the bishop in celebrating the First Vespers of Our Lady of the Angels.
After a full day of grace and beauty, the group returned to Rome, welcomed by the sisters with refreshments. Assisi left a profound impression on their hearts.
The group returned home around 9 p.m. for dinner, followed by a brief planning session and quiet prayer in the chapel. They ended the day full of gratitude for God’s protection.
The group awoke early to pray Lauds and participate in the Eucharist, concelebrated by the bishop and Fr Fulgencio. Following breakfast, they dedicated time to Lectio Divina, reviewing their pilgrimage week with honesty and depth. It was a meaningful space for spiritual sharing and gratitude.
Strengthened by prayer, Scripture, the Eucharist, and fellowship, they headed to Tor Vergata, the site of the grand Youth Vigil with Pope Leo XIV. They arrived in good time and found a place among the immense crowd.
The Pope’s arrival at 7 p.m. was deeply moving. Three young people presented testimonies, and the Pope’s responses were heartfelt and encouraging, a true catechesis for our times. The evening continued with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Over a million young people knelt in silence before the Lord. The Gospel of the Road to Emmaus was proclaimed and meditated upon throughout the vigil.
As night fell, the group prepared to sleep outdoors in their sleeping bags. Despite the noise, singing, and even a brief storm, the night was filled with spiritual unity. The Pope led prayers for two young pilgrims who had died on their way to Rome.
By 6 a.m., the field of Tor Vergata stirred quietly. The silence of the early morning, with over a million young people asleep under the stars, was awe-inspiring. As the sun rose, hearts were lifted in contemplation.
At 8:30 a.m., Pope Leo XIV passed through the crowd in the popemobile, greeting the pilgrims. The solemn Mass began at 9 a.m., concelebrated by numerous cardinals, bishops, and thousands of priests.
The Pope’s homily was powerful. Reflecting on the day’s readings, he reminded the youth that “all is vanity unless founded in Christ.” The silence during the Consecration was deeply reverent. At the end, he gave a solemn blessing, and in a final address, he told the youth: “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Take hope wherever you go.”
The Jubilee came to a close with those words, but its spirit lives on in the hearts of all who took part. May Our Lady of the Angels continue to guide us in this earthly pilgrimage until we meet her Son.
Deo gratias.
The Pope’s arrival at 7 p.m. was deeply moving. Three young people presented testimonies, and the Pope’s responses were heartfelt and encouraging—a true catechesis for our times. The evening continued with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Over a million young people knelt in silence before the Lord. The Gospel of the Road to Emmaus was proclaimed and meditated upon throughout the vigil.
As night fell, the group prepared to sleep outdoors in their sleeping bags. Despite the noise, singing, and even a brief storm, the night was filled with spiritual unity. The Pope led prayers for two young pilgrims who had died on their way to Rome.