Young Catholics On Pilgrimage Towards 2033?

Jul 13, 2025 | 0 comments

The Vatican has supported a call from a group of young Spanish Christians to all European youth to go ‘on pilgrimage’ in the years from 2025-2033 – to Rome in 2025, to Compostela in Spain in 2027 and to Jerusalem in 2033 – under the banner of a “Manifesto of Young Christians of Europe”.

Pope Leo XIV with Fernando Moscardó and his friend Patricia in June 2025

Offered as a response to the call of Pope Francis in ‘Hope Does Not Disappoint‘ – for Christians to restore hope by going on pilgrimage to Rome in 2025 – the Manifesto declares that ‘there is beauty in following Jesus … the Gospel has not passed away … It is fire today, lit by the Holy Spirit. 

Emphasising inclusiveness and welcome, it says: “We choose to heal. To be the face of a Church that does not judge, but welcomes. Where no one is superfluous. Where no one walks alone.”

A 22 year-old spokesperson for the movement, Fernando Moscardó Vegas stated that the Manifesto is solely the result of the young generation looking for meaning. “Christ is living and Europe can find its soul if it listens” Vegas said, quoting St. Augustine:  “Lord you made us for you and we will be in rest if we find you”.

Assured by Pope Leo XIV in June that he will follow the movement closely, the organisers have invited the pope to participate in launching it in Trastavere on August 1st, 2025.

For the complete Vatican News report, dated 2nd July 2025, click here.

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ACI’s Campaign for Lumen Gentium 37

The Promise of Synodality

What we have experienced of synodality so far gives ACI real hope that a longstanding structural injustice in the church may at last be acknowledged and overcome.

As all Irish bishops well know, the 'co-responsibility' they urge lay people to share - as numbers and energies of clergy decline - has been sabotaged time and again by canonical rules that deny representational authority and continuity to parish pastoral councils.  ACI's 2019 call for the immediate honouring of Lumen Gentium Article 37 becomes more urgent by the day and is supported by the following documents - also presented to the ICBC in October 2019.

The Common Priesthood of the People of God and the Renewal of the Church
It was Catholic parents and victims of clerical abuse who taught Catholic Bishops to prioritise the safeguarding of children in the church

Jesus as Model for the Common Priesthood of the People of God
It was for challenging religious hypocrisy and injustice that Jesus was accused and crucified. He is therefore a model for the common priesthood of the laity and for the challenging of injustice - in society and within the church.

A Suggested Strategy for the Recovery of the Irish and Western Catholic Church
Recovery of the church depends upon acknowledgment of the indispensable role of the common priesthood of the lay people of God and the explicit abandonment by bishops and clergy of paternalism and clericalism - the expectation of deference from lay people rather than honesty and integrity.

For the full story of ACI's campaign for the honouring of Article 37 of Lumen Gentium, click here.

Prayer

"Come Holy Spirit, Renew Your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost. Grant to Your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and following the lead of blessed Peter, it may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour, the reign of truth and justice, the reign of love and peace. Amen."

Saint Pope John XXIII, 1962 - In preparation for Vatican Council II, 1962-65.

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