Our young Augustinian lay people with Pope Leo XIV at the Jubilee in Rome: “Love one another”

From July 29 to August 3, the Jubilee of Youth took place in Rome. Convoked by Pope Leo XIV, more than two hundred of our Augustinian youth, coming from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru, were accompanied by the Augustinian friars.

Welcomed by the Province of Italy, the Jubilee was supported and accompanied by Fathers Edward Daleng and Alexander Lam, who are in charge of the commission that looks after young people.

Pilgrimages to the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul, cultural, artistic, and spiritual activities throughout the city, as well as being with Pope Leo XIV in Tor Vergata together with the Prior General of the Order, Father Alejandro Moral Antón, were some of the experiences our young people carried in their hearts from these days filled with prayer, encounter, and the joy of living the Augustinian charism in the company of others who, like them, wished to visit the Eternal City.

“People wanted to see the Pope, to be close to him,” said Father Lam, Assistant General for Latin America. “I saw our youth enthusiastic, eager to continue their formation, to go out on mission.

“In the midst of all that activity, we grew as a Church,” shared the Prior General, who during those days was able to experience firsthand the concerns and hopes of our young people. “They have come out with the desire to share what they have lived. ”

Here we gather the chronicle and testimonies of some of the 150 young people from the Province of San Juan de Sahagún who did not want to miss the Jubilee of Youth in Rome.

A path ahead of you

On Thursday, July 31, they celebrated the Eucharist in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, with Augustinian pilgrims from other countries. Afterwards, together they passed through the Holy Door. 

In the afternoon, at the General Curia of the Order of St. Augustine, they were received by the Prior General, Fr. Alejandro Moral, who spoke to them about the most characteristic features of Augustinian spirituality. Thus concluded their first day in Rome.

On Friday, August 1 in the morning, the pilgrims received the sacrament of reconciliation at the Circus Maximus.

 In the afternoon, the group gathered at St. Peter’s Square for the meeting of Spanish pilgrims. It was a day of testimonies, accompanied by music and readings of several biblical passages, which facilitated a time of reflection.

The meeting ended with the Eucharist, presided over by Archbishop Luis Arguello of Valladolid, President of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, and concelebrated by several Spanish bishop.

Steadfast steps

“On Saturday, August 2, Tor Vergata awaited us—an open field without a single tree, promising to scorch us under the Roman summer sun,” recounts Fr. Gerardo. “But it was also, for many, one of the most eagerly awaited days of the Jubilee, because we would have the chance to see, even from afar, our beloved Leon XIV. And so it was: we reached the blazing plain around 1:30 p.m. At the entrance, we were given a box containing dinner for that day, breakfast, and lunch for Sunday.” 

The afternoon passed with music from groups in various languages and the expectant wait for the Pope, who did not fail to come. At 7:00 p.m., he entered the square to applause and the joyful shouts of the million young people gathered there, who did not miss the chance to express their affection.

God comes to meet you: “Love one another”

At World Youth Days, the night vigil is always an intense and moving moment for pilgrims, and this occasion was no exception. The Pope answered questions posed by three young people: the first in Spanish, the second in English, and the third in Italian. “Dear young people, love one another. Love one another in Christ. Learn to see Jesus in others,” Pope Leo XIV told the youth. The vigil concluded with Eucharistic adoration and the blessing of the Holy Father.

“We slept that night on the Tor Vergata plain. And perhaps to add a touch of heroism to the effort already made by the young people, a small downpour at dawn woke us up,” recount the religious who accompanied the group. “But not even that could dampen the desire for the new day to begin, so we could celebrate the Eucharist with the Pope.”

Aspire to be saints

Mass was scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., but Leo XIV arrived an hour earlier than expected, surprising everyone, who were able to see him a bit closer: “It was a truly moving moment.” 

In his homily, Leo XIV encouraged young people to bring the joy of the Gospel to every corner of the world, to be courageous, and not to silence the thirst of the heart but to listen to it. “Dearest young people, our hope is Jesus (…) let us remain united to Him.”

Perhaps one of the most powerful phrases of all his interventions during the Jubilee, which sums up his message, was his invitation to be saints: “aspire to holiness wherever you are; do not settle for less.” At the conclusion of the celebration, the Pope said goodbye warmly, inviting the young people to the next World Youth Day, which will be held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027.

Returning home with hearts full

María Rey-Gil and Manuel Reboiro, two young people from San Agustín University College in Madrid, emphasized that these were enriching days because they were able to share their faith with other young people and realized they are not alone: “We have grown spiritually thanks to the liturgies, prayers, the presence of the Pope, and the intensity of the journey.

” They highlighted the moments of fellowship with other people who also attended the Jubilee, both religious and lay, “who spoke and expressed their faith and happiness with complete naturalness.” If they had to choose just one moment, it would be difficult. Both mentioned the vigil, passing through the Holy Door, the meeting with Spanish pilgrims, and the visit to the General Curia of the OSA.

Ana Mª Fuentes, from Alicante, shared in the same spirit: “The meeting of Spaniards, the vigil, and the Mass at Tor Vergata teach us to be better Christians, but for me, the encounter with the Italian Augustinians and with the Prior General was particularly meaningful, as they reminded me of the values that our Order instills in us. Experiences like this mark you for life.”

For his part, Daniel García, from the parish of Santa Ana y la Esperanza (Moratalaz), said the Jubilee was a support for him: “I was a bit lost in how to live my relationship with God; seeing and listening to people who are part of the Christian community was very helpful to me, as it gave me other points of view. In this way, I was able to fill my spirit and reaffirm my faith.”

Thus ended the Jubilee of Youth: a true pilgrimage that required great physical effort, but also offered a rich and unforgettable experience for the young people. The leaders of each community, who accompanied the youth, also returned very happy, because what was lived far exceeded the sacrifices made. They expressed deep gratitude for the efforts of the Augustinian friars Frs. Adrián Álvarez and Jesús Baños, who, from the Secretariat for Children and Youth of the Province, did everything possible to make this experience happen.

De vuelta a casa con el corazón henchido 

María Rey-Gil y Manuel Reboiro, dos jóvenes del Colegio Mayor Universitario San Agustín, de Madrid, subrayan que fueron unos días muy enriquecedores porque pudieron compartir la fe con otros jóvenes y comprobaron que no están solos: «Hemos crecido espiritualmente gracias a las liturgias, a las oraciones, a la presencia del papa y a la intensidad del viaje».

Destacan los momentos de convivencia con otras personas que también acudían al jubileo, tanto religiosos como laicos, «que con total naturalidad hablaban y expresaban su fe y su felicidad». Y, si tienen que quedarse con alguno de los momentos vividos estos días, les cuesta escoger. Pero ambos mencionan la vigilia, atravesar la Puerta Santa, el encuentro con los otros peregrinos españoles y la visita a la Curia General de la OSA.

En la misma línea comparte su experiencia Ana Mª Fuentes, de Alicante: «El encuentro de españoles y la vigilia y misa en Tor Vergata nos enseñan a ser mejores cristianos, pero para mí ha tenido especial relevancia el encuentro con los agustinos de Italia y con el Prior General, ya que me hicieron recordar los valores que nuestra orden nos inculca. Experiencias como ésta son las que te marcan para toda la vida».

Por su parte, Daniel García, de la parroquia Santa Ana y la Esperanza (Moratalaz) señala que el jubileo ha supuesto un apoyo para él «porque estaba un poco perdido en cómo llevar mi relación con Dios; ver y escuchar a gente que forma parte de la comunidad cristiana me ha sido muy útil para tener otros puntos de vista y así, he podido llenar mi espíritu y reafirmar mi fe».

Así terminó el Jubileo de los Jóvenes, una verdadera peregrinación, que requirió de un gran esfuerzo físico, y que significó también una riquísima experiencia para los jóvenes.

Los responsables de cada comunidad, que acompañaban a los jóvenes, también volvieron muy contentos, porque lo vivido supera infinitamente el sacrificio hecho; con un profundo agradecimiento por el esfuerzo de los religiosos agustinos PP. Adrián Álvarez y Jesús Baños, que desde el Secretariado de Infancia y Juventud de la Provincia hicieron lo que estuvo en sus manos para que esta experiencia fuera posible.