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 the way to peace.
Pope Leo XIV, Vigil of the Jubilee of the Youth
With these words, Pope Leo XIV responded to the first question posed to him at the prayer vigil at Tor Vergata during the Jubilee of Youth. This great event of the Holy Year, which took place between July 28 and August 3, brought together more than one million young people from all over the world to invite them to be “Pilgrims of Hope”. Among them were more than 60 young Vedruna from various parts of Spain, who traveled to the eternal city to live a unique experience with the help of the Vedruna Vocational Youth Ministry.
During those days, they passed through the Holy Door of St. Mary Major, where they paid their respects at the tomb of Pope Francis and participated in the Eucharist; they experienced the sacrament of reconciliation at the Circo Massimo; they were part of the 30,000 Spaniards who gathered in St. Peter’s Square to share prayers, testimonies, songs and a Eucharist. And, of course, they participated in the Vigil and final Mass of the Jubilee at Tor Vergata, presided over by Pope Leo XIV.
Visit to the General House
During the trip, they also experienced a very significant moment when they visited the General House of the Congregation: they met there with some of the Sisters of the General Team and the General House community. They talked with them, sharing what had brought each one of them there, and they soaked up the history of this very important place for our Family. For all, it was an exciting and profound encounter, which highlighted the presence of Joaquina accompanying each step of the way.
In his own words
The best way to understand the experience is through the words of the young people who participated in it, so we share the testimonies of the participants.
The Youth Jubilee 2025 in Rome was much more than a trip, it was an encounter with God, with the Church and with the great Vedruna family. Young people from different places came together to go on pilgrimage with the same dream in their hearts: to live and share hope. Between prayers, moments of sharing, tiredness and joy, each one returned home with the certainty that faith is multiplied when it is lived in community and in the Vedruna family. These testimonies gather the voices, emotions and learning of those who let the good Jesus mark their steps in the streets of Rome.
In every word, in every memory and in every gesture narrated, one senses that this Jubilee has been a gift that will continue to bear fruit. Rome witnessed the strength of young people’s faith and the joy of knowing that they are loved by God. The lived experience reminds us that hope is not a simple feeling, but a path that we walk together, supporting one another and always pointing upwards. As a Vedruna family, we give thanks for what we have lived and we continue to walk, certain that “hope does not disappoint” and that the love of Christ is the true motor of our lives. .
PJV Vedruna of Europe
For me this experience with the Vedruna family has been a great opportunity to get closer to God, meet great people and live the Faith in community. It is the first time I come with Vedruna and I loved it, I felt at home from the first day, in family. The Carmelite Sisters in Rome took care of us especially well, always pending, with small details; starting with their sympathy and ending by giving us breakfast today, day 4. I feel very grateful.
On the other hand, this pilgrimage has been by far the best I have experienced so far. I realized true happiness: being disconnected from all social networks and focusing on the gift next to me; those laughs with people I had met less than a week ago. It was incredible to see Rome full of young people all pursuing the same path: God.
Teresa Millares (Seville)
God gave us a wonderful experience with people with great hearts. How beautiful Rome was full of hope. We young people are the future full of peace. Let us never tire of giving love to others. Always Vedruna.
Manuel Jiménez (San Fernando)
I feel something special every time I join you, my Vedruna family. I feel so fortunate to have been able to live this Jubilee, although at the beginning there were all concerns, we went without responsibility, without references, with fear. But when we arrived we were fortunate that we had some monitors who cared about us and I found in them a refuge; they made us live the experience to the fullest at every moment giving us their hand and their support in everything. In the moments of prayer, everything was tranquility, relaxation, faith, within the chaos that constantly surrounds us.
I can’t be more grateful to be able to learn more and get closer to God every day. It is so nice to get together with like-minded people and all together, praying and thanking Him.
The Jubilee has taught me so many things… mainly, to value the things of everyday life, those that many people live without, to live without a cell phone, which so often takes away our peace and distances us from God. To appreciate friendships, those that we do not see often, but we know how to take care of them. And most importantly, to find the presence of God in everything that surrounds us, to live with Him because without Him nothing exists. As Pope Leo says: ” We have been chosen, we are the fruit of a love that has willed us. We have the objective of proclaiming and bringing the word of God to everyone. “. Because, in my experience, God is that thread that is always there, holding you when you need it and swaying you when you don’t. When you find the true love of God, everything changes. When you find the true love of God, everything changes.
The Jubilee has been an experience of evolution, change, learning and faith.
María José Mancera (Villafranca)
The Youth Jubilee 2025 has been an experience I will never forget. First of all, we must thank God for all that we carry in our hearts, because we do everything for Him and for Him. We have experienced so many moments of prayer, of encounter, of joy, of tiredness and of so many feelings that I cannot describe. To have been able to meet Pope Leo XIV was incredible. The moment of having him right in front of us in the Popemobile: that will never fade from our minds! Besides, living it with the Vedruna Family has made everything multiply by a thousand: to feel welcomed and united by the same feeling, in short, to FEEL LIKE FAMILY.
Eder Esteban (Madrid)
On the PJV Vedruna de Europa page you can read more testimonies, and videos of the experience on their social networks:
