Bishop Robert Barron will give a keynote address to over 3,500 young American pilgrims in Rome on July 30. The event is part of the global Jubilee of Youth celebrations. The U.S. National Pilgrim Gathering is organized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The gathering will include Eucharistic adoration, catechesis, and a procession with relics of saints.
3 months ago
Bishop Robert Barron is slated to deliver a keynote address to over 3,500 young American pilgrims in Rome on July 30, as part of the larger Jubilee of Youth celebrations 1, 3. The event, organized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), will take place at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls 1, 3. Bishop Barron, who serves as the Bishop of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, and chairs the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, will speak on the theme of being a missionary witness in the contemporary world 1, 3.
The Jubilee of Youth, running from July 28 to August 3, is expected to draw more than 100,000 young people to Rome 1, 3. This global event is part of the Catholic Church's broader jubilee year observances 1, 3. The U.S. National Pilgrim Gathering will feature Eucharistic adoration, catechesis, and a procession showcasing relics of 12 saints and blesseds significant to the American Church and Catholic youth 1, 3. Additionally, Bishop Edward Burns of Dallas will lead a Eucharistic Holy Hour during the three-hour evening event 1, 3.
Pilgrims attending the Jubilee of Youth will have opportunities to walk through the Holy Door at St. Paul Outside the Walls and pray before the tomb of St. Paul 1, 3. The broader Jubilee of Youth program includes a penitential day at Circus Maximus on August 1, a large prayer vigil at Tor Vergata on August 2 led by Pope Leo XIV, and a closing Mass celebrated by the Pope on August 3 1, 3. Participants are also encouraged to undertake walking pilgrimages to sites associated with young saints, utilizing digital maps available on the EWTN Travel App 1, 3. These pilgrimages may include visits to the tombs of St. Agnes, St. Cecilia, and St. Philip Neri, as well as relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, Blessed Ivan Merz, and the tomb of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati 1, 3.
Bishop Barron is widely recognized for his pioneering digital evangelization efforts through his "Word on Fire" media ministry 1, 3. He gained prominence by effectively using online platforms such as YouTube and Reddit to engage young Catholics and those who are religiously unaffiliated 1, 3. His keynote address at the Jubilee of Youth follows closely on the heels of the "Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers," a parallel event in Rome that concluded on July 29 1, 3. This digital jubilee featured speakers like Jesuit Fathers David McCallum and Antonio Spadaro, with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle celebrating a Mass for young digital missionaries at St. Peter’s Basilica 1, 3.
Beyond the U.S. delegation, other national groups are also holding their own events during the Jubilee of Youth 1, 3. Over 1,000 South Korean pilgrims, for instance, will gather for Mass on July 31, celebrated by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung 1. The Archdiocese of Seoul is slated to host the next World Youth Day with the Pope in 2027 1. The Canadian National Pilgrim Gathering is scheduled for July 29 at the Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle 1, 3. The U.S. National Pilgrim Gathering will be broadcast by EWTN and livestreamed on the USCCB’s YouTube channel, with dioceses encouraging local youth groups to tune in 1, 3.
How does the Church evangelize youth in the modern world?
The Church evangelizes youth in the modern world through a multifaceted approach that emphasizes formation, community, and engagement with contemporary culture, including digital spaces. This approach recognizes young people as a vital force for evangelization and social renewal .
A primary aspect of evangelizing youth involves providing a serious program of formation in sound Catholic doctrine . This includes catechesis before Confirmation and ongoing support to develop their relationship with Christ and knowledge of the Gospel . Catholic schools play a significant role in offering a balanced human formation with firm moral reference points and solid Christian formation . Parishes and dioceses also provide catechetical, moral, and spiritual formation programs to deepen personal faith and encourage commitment .
The Church encourages young people to engage in personal and liturgical prayer and to frequently receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist . Prayer meetings and weekly Eucharistic adoration are vital, with the Holy Mass, especially on Sunday, being the heart of every missionary plan .
Youth ministry is often focused on the parish to ensure young people are not isolated from the broader community of faith and worship . Supplementing parish activities with membership in Catholic youth associations, movements, and groups is also helpful in meeting their specific needs . The Church strives to invite and welcome young adults more completely into its life, recognizing their spiritual hunger, idealism, and vitality . Many dioceses offer summer camps, retreats, and frequent youth Masses, and local communities are encouraged to listen to the concerns and suggestions of young people, allowing them an active voice in the Church .
The Church acknowledges the challenges young people face, such as unemployment, lack of prospects, illiteracy, materialism, casual attitudes towards human sexuality, and substance abuse . In response, the Church is committed to maintaining its pastoral and missionary outreach to young people, helping them to encounter the living Jesus Christ . This includes providing access to affordable Catholic education and Church-sponsored youth activities .
The Church recognizes the digital world as an integral part of everyday life and a new space for evangelization . Social networks offer opportunities for prayer, meditation, and sharing the Word of God, and can lead to direct encounters, community experiences, and pilgrimages . Young people, with their natural affinity for new communication means, are encouraged to take on the responsibility for evangelizing this "digital continent" . The Church aims to integrate the Christian message into the "new culture" created by modern communications, using new languages, techniques, and psychology . This involves presenting news about the Church's activities, explaining and defending Catholic teaching, and producing uplifting media content .
Young Christians are called to be apostles to their contemporaries and missionaries to their peers . They are encouraged to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world and to announce the Gospel with enthusiasm, understanding the fears, hopes, aspirations, and disappointments of their generation . The Church aims to train young people to be protagonists of evangelization and the building of society, encouraging them to make demanding choices in following Jesus and drawing strength from an intense sacramental life .
In summary, the Church's evangelization of youth in the modern world is a dynamic process that combines traditional spiritual formation with active engagement in contemporary social and digital spheres, empowering young people to be active participants and leaders in the Church's mission .