Pope Leo XIV greets a young pilgrim in Rome during a meeting with group of teachers and young people from Denmark, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, Saturday, July 5, 2025. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Jul 5, 2025 / 11:30 am (CNA).Pope Leo XIV on Saturday said pilgrimages play an essential role in the life of faith as they help a Christian to be better united to Jesus Christ and discern God's purpose for us in life.The Holy Father invited a large group of teachers and young people from Denmark, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to the Vatican on Saturday and encouraged them to come closer to God during their summer pilgrimage in Rome for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.Pilgrims present Pope Leo XIV with a bottle of Irish whisky at the Vatican, Saturday, July 5, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaDuring the meeting, the pope said: "A pilgrimage has a vital part to play in our life of faith for it removes us from our homes and our daily routines and gives us time and space...
Pope Leo XIV greets a young pilgrim in Rome during a meeting with group of teachers and young people from Denmark, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, Saturday, July 5, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Jul 5, 2025 / 11:30 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday said pilgrimages play an essential role in the life of faith as they help a Christian to be better united to Jesus Christ and discern God's purpose for us in life.
The Holy Father invited a large group of teachers and young people from Denmark, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to the Vatican on Saturday and encouraged them to come closer to God during their summer pilgrimage in Rome for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.
Pilgrims present Pope Leo XIV with a bottle of Irish whisky at the Vatican, Saturday, July 5, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
During the meeting, the pope said: "A pilgrimage has a vital part to play in our life of faith for it removes us from our homes and our daily routines and gives us time and space to encounter God more deeply."
"Such moments always help us to grow, for through them the Holy Spirit gently fashions us to be ever more closely conformed to the mind and the heart of Jesus Christ," he continued.
Continuing the theme of his July prayer intention "for formation in discernment," the pope told the group of teachers and students that God "has created each one of you with a purpose and a mission in this life." He encouraged them to visit the many holy sites in the Eternal City during their jubilee pilgrimage.
Pope Leo XIV appears before a group of teachers and young people from Denmark, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales at the Vatican on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
"Use this opportunity for listening, for prayer, so that you may hear more clearly God's voice calling you deep within your hearts," he said. "Today, so often, we lose the ability to listen, to really listen."
"We listen to music, we have our ears flooded constantly with all kinds of digital input, but sometimes we forget to listen to our own hearts and it's in our hearts that God speaks to us," he continued.
By fostering a personal relationship with Jesus, the pope said God "calls us and invites us to know him better and to live in his love" and to share that gift of faith with others, just like the countless saints and martyrs had over the centuries.
Addressing the teachers of the group, Leo said they have an "important role in the formation of today's youth" and are role models for them.
"I hope that, each day, you will nurture your relationship with Christ, who gives us the pattern of all authentic teaching, so that, in turn, you may guide and encourage those entrusted to your care to follow Christ in their own lives," he said.
The Holy Father challenged his listeners on Saturday to continue their "pilgrimage of discipleship" when they return to their home countries, relying always on God's mercy and the intercession of the saints.
"Dear friends, with these few words, and entrusting you to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, I gladly impart to each of you my heartfelt blessing," he said at the meeting's conclusion.
According to the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization, more than 10 million pilgrims have come to Rome for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope since Pope Francis opened the Church's holy year on Christmas Eve 2024.
A choir poses before an image of Pier Giorgio Frassati during a celebration of the centenary of his death, Turin, Italy, Friday, July 4, 2025 / Credit: Courtney Mares/CNATurin, Italy, Jul 5, 2025 / 13:00 pm (CNA).On the 100th anniversary of Pier Giorgio Frassati's death this week, crowds packed into the Turin Cathedral to pray at the tomb of the charismatic young man who is set to be canonized as a saint in September. The three-day celebration of the centenary, dubbed "Frassati Days," drew pilgrims from the United States, Poland, and Switzerland to Piedmont, the northern Italian region where Frassati lived and left a lasting legacy of faith and charity. Concelebrating priests preside at Mass in Turin's Cathedral of St John the Baptist celebrating the centenary of Pier Giorgio Frassati's death, Friday, July 4, 2025. Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA "These 100 years made Frassati a popular young man. Not only in Turin, not only in Piedmont, not only in Italy, but all ove...
Trees emerge from flood waters along the Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas with multiple fatalities reported. / Credit: Eric Vryn/Getty ImagesSan Antonio, Texas, Jul 5, 2025 / 14:00 pm (CNA).Catholics are responding with prayers and aid after record-breaking flash floods in central Texas devastated communities along the area's rivers and killed multiple people. The flash flooding began in the early hours of July 4. Heavy rainfall filled the creeks that emptied into the several rivers that wind through the normally arid hills known as the Texas Hill Country, located north and west of San Antonio and Austin."At this time it is unknown how many have been affected by rising water levels along rivers and creeks," the Archdiocese of San Antonio said in a Friday statement. "It is our prayer that those impacted by the floods will find the strength to rebuild. We pledge to be wit...
null / Credit: A and I Kruk/ShutterstockCNA Staff, Jul 5, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).As more Catholic parishes and notable Catholic figures become the targets of scammers, a new initiative has been launched to help Catholics spot a scam and avoid becoming victims.Theresa Payton, CEO of Fortalice Solutions and former White House chief information officer, is spearheading the initiative, called "Protecting the Faithful." The campaign is being actively rolled out in parishes across the country through bulletin announcements and the distribution of infographics, videos, and guides highlighting the red flags of a scam.Many of these scams come in the form of emails sent to parishioners that look to be from their pastor asking them to donate to parish charities or ministries. Scammers are also targeting the fans of notable Catholic figures.For instance, there have been several incidents where scammers impersonated Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie. The scammers have messaged Roumie's follower...
Pope Leo XIV greets a young pilgrim in Rome during a meeting with group of teachers and young people from Denmark, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, Saturday, July 5, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
