Diocese of Fulda's Faction in Rome Expresses Awe towards the Pope and the "Youth Jubilee" Celebration
Pope Leo XIV's Jubilee of Youth: A Spiritual Renewal for Young Catholics Worldwide
In the heart of Rome, from July 28 to August 3, 2025, the Catholic Church's Jubilee year played host to a significant international event aimed at young people – the Jubilee of Youth. Over half a million young Catholics from around the world, including a group from the Diocese of Fulda, gathered to celebrate faith, community, and sacramental participation.
The event, held under the motto "Pilgrims of Hope," began with Pope Leo XIV's welcoming Angelus address, where he greeted the tens of thousands of young attendees from various countries in multiple languages, encouraging them to deepen their faith and encounter Christ.
Throughout the Jubilee, vibrant activities such as prayer vigils, Christian rock concerts, inspirational talks, and confession opportunities at historic sites like the Circus Maximus took place. A key highlight was a vigil and overnight event at Tor Vergata field, where hundreds of thousands camped out, culminating in a Mass celebrated by the Pope on August 3.
Pope Leo XIV urged youth to build genuine, faith-rooted relationships rather than transient online ones and to make courageous choices grounded in authentic friendship. Media described the Jubilee as a "Catholic Woodstock," emphasizing joyous worship through song, dance, and prayer in Rome's public spaces.
The event marked a spiritual renewal and communal bonding experience reminiscent of a smaller-scale World Youth Day, which last occurred 25 years prior. It provided a rare opportunity for young Catholics worldwide to engage in faith formation, confession, Eucharistic adoration, and personal testimonies en masse.
The Jubilee reinforced the importance of traditional Catholic sacraments, especially reconciliation, with thousands participating in confessions at the Circus Maximus, highlighting a penitential dimension to the celebrations. Pope Leo's messages focused on hope, authentic human connection, and faith as antidotes to modern isolation among youth.
While direct individual testimonies from the Diocese of Fulda are not cited in available sources, participants likely engaged deeply with the Jubilee’s prayer, community, and sacramental programs, reflecting the broader sentiment expressed by pilgrims worldwide of spiritual growth and inspiration.
A group of 26 young adults from the Diocese of Fulda participated in the Jubilee of Youth in Rome, accompanied by Father André Kulla OMI, Maike Pichler, Marius Hübner, Patrick Jestaedt, and Johanna Henkel. The group celebrated a Holy Mass in the general house of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and were accommodated in a sports hall near the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.
Maike Pichler, Director of "Living Faith," stated that the small groups developed their own dynamics and grew together during the days in Rome. The atmosphere during the event was peaceful and marked by mutual respect, despite all the exuberance.
Johanna Henkel, who is studying social work and currently doing her practical semester in school pastoral care, joined the group from the Diocese of Fulda. There were additional opportunities outside the official program, such as visits to events of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and the German Catholic Youth Association (DPSG) or the 7-Churches-Tour.
In Fulda, the travel group met on August 16 to reflect on their time in Rome, with General Vicar Dr. Martin Stanke and Domkapitular Thomas Renze visiting them and celebrating a Holy Mass. Thomas Renze spent the "Last Night" on the closing field with the "Pilgrims of Hope" from the Diocese of Fulda and participated in the Holy Mass with Pope Leo XIV.
In summary, Pope Leo XIV's Jubilee of Youth was a spiritually rich, large-scale festival fostering faith renewal, community, and sacramental participation, with profound impact on young Catholics globally, including the Diocese of Fulda. The event aimed to set many impulses for a lively faith testimony and to make new friendships across all borders.
- Despite the focus on spiritual renewal and faith-based activities during Pope Leo XIV's Jubilee of Youth, the event also provided opportunities for travel and exploration, with young CatholicsFrom the Diocese of Fulda participating in visits to events of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the German Catholic Youth Association, and the 7-Churches-Tour.
- The Jubilee of Youth was not just a religious event, but also a lifestyle experience, with vibrant activities such as prayer vigils, Christian rock concerts, and inspirational talks creating a unique blend of travel, culture, and faith for the tens of thousands of young participants.
