Youth Jubilee: A faith without borders

We had been travelling through Europe by train for a week already, seeing historic cities like Siena and Florence. However, the real journey of the soul began when we first arrived at the reserve we were going to stay at during our time in Rome. We were greeted by smiles from the very beginning, even though we had all just arrived from our long and tiring trips from all parts of the globe. Us from Norway, another group from Japan, one from Brazil and the last one from Benin. Despite the language barriers and cultural differences, we immediately started to get to know each other, as best as we could.

Throughout our days, we witnessed and shared the rich diversity of prayer and devotion the groups brought with them. The expressive and joyful faith of the Beninese pilgrims, the quiet reverence and contemplative spirit of the Japanese group, and the lively celebration and warmth of the Brazilian youth blended into a beautiful harmony that shaped our pilgrimage. Their different ways of worship and community life invited us to see the faith through new eyes and to appreciate the many gifts within the Catholic church. While the pilgrimage itself was centered on deepening our relationship with Christ and His Church, one of the most powerful dimensions of the journey was the encounter with other young Catholics from around the world, we were diverse in culture, but one in faith.

Even though we didn’t always share a language, we understood each other through smiles, song, and shared worship. The diversity of the Church was not just something we observed — it was something we lived. This experience showed us that communion in the Church is not built primarily on words, but on shared faith and sacramental life. Standing side by side in prayer, singing hymns in unfamiliar languages, or joining in the same gestures of the Mass, we discovered a unity that ran deeper than cultural or linguistic difference.

Throughout the week, there were moments of joy and fatigue, awe and silence. We got to know both ourselves and each other better as well as reflecting together on what it means to be young women of faith today. This pilgrimage challenged us, inspired us, and reminded us that we are not alone in our journey.

As we returned to Norway, we carried with us more than memories. We returned with a renewed sense of purpose, a deeper understanding of the Church’s universality, and a shared hope to live our faith more fully — wherever and with whomever we might be.

Text : Ebba Mossige
Photo : Anabella Mørk