On Saturday, August 2, 2025, on a cool morning in Rome, the garden of the Seraphicum College was transformed into a large space for prayer and communion, which accommodated 700 young people from all over the world. Seated on the grass in groups according to nationality, the participants in the 9th International Youth Toward Assisi Meeting, entitled “Lights of Hope,” celebrated Mass together. It was the central moment of their day and a significant milestone on their pilgrimage.
The Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, Friar Carlos A. TROVARELLI, presided over the Mass, which was celebrated at 9:00 a.m. in the garden in front of the Seraphicum refectory. About fifty friar priests concelebrated, including some members of the General Definitory. The student friars of the Seraphicum took care of the liturgical service during the Mass. Music for the liturgy was performed with passion by the GVA Choir, directed by Friar Emanuel CHIRICHEȘ.
The hymn, prayers, and readings were proclaimed in different languages. This visibly expressed the beauty of the Church’s universality and Franciscan fraternity. Everything took place in a solemn and focused atmosphere, made even more meaningful by the occasion: the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels, also known as the Pardon of Assisi. In the Franciscan tradition, this day is closely tied to the grace of plenary indulgence and to God’s mercy.
Friar Carlos celebrated the Mass in Spanish, but the Word and the Eucharistic liturgy resounded in several different languages, as a sign marking the shared journey among the young people who came from many different nations, namely: Argentina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay and Zambia.
The Minister General gave a fatherly and profound homily. He offered the young people words of hope and encouragement. Among other things, he said:
“You are coming to the end of this pilgrimage, which has undoubtedly been a beautiful experience, because you have met people from other countries with whom you share your faith.”
He went on to remind them: “You have visited none other than Rome and Assisi,” and that they have retraced “the very paths of St. Francis, St. Clare, and of those young people who, captivated by the Gospel of Jesus, renewed the Church of their day and filled their social surroundings with new hope.” He added: “You have arrived at the threshold of the Apostles Peter and Paul…you will even meet the successor of Peter—the ‘Lord Pope,’ as St. Francis used to say,” referencing communion with the Church and with the Bishop of Rome.
He further emphasized: “You see, all pilgrimages are a symbol of our own lives. The path we travel externally is a sign and a memory that gives profound meaning to our lives, to the dreams that inspire us, to the projects we nurture, and to the challenges we face.”
He concluded: “Over these days, you have explored various facets of your lives. All these things are like a pilgrimage.”
At the end of the celebration, Friar Carlos gave his blessing, and immediately afterwards the youth gathered for a large group photo, together with all the friars– a living memory of an encounter that left a deep impression on their hearts.
In the afternoon, the participants continued their journey with a prayer vigil with Pope Leo XIV at the Tor Vergata University in Rome, the heart of the 2025 Youth Jubilee.
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