¡Ésta es la juventud del Papa!

(Here are the Pope 's Young People!)

Before my 10-day pilgrimage in Italy, where I participated in the Jubilee for Young People in Rome in July, I had never been a part of a group of my peers that was both alive with the Holy Spirit and proud of our Catholic faith. The peak highlight of the trip was when Pope Leo XIV came to greet all one million of us on Tor Vergata field, where the now viral photo of Pope Leo XIV carrying the wooden cross was taken. The sense of urgency, of passion, of absolute excitement and fire rang through us all.

A Pilgrimage of Reconciliation

On the way to Rome, we visited several places, including Basilica di Santa Rita da Cascia, where Saint Rita, patroness of impossible causes, is buried. At the basilica, I had the chance to receive the sacrament of reconciliation and attend Mass. During my confession, I poured my heart out, and truly, I experienced the weight of living my life without a relationship with God.

As the priest absolved me from my sins, I felt God encountering me where I was. I physically experienced a hot feeling fill my whole body, and I completely broke down in the confessional.  In the pew, I knelt and cried like I had not cried in a long time.

In the Mass that followed, the closer I came to Jesus in the communion line, the more emotional I became, filled with a sense of the greatness of God's love and mercy. When I consumed the Host after being away from Christ for a while, I was deeply filled with gratitude. It was then that I started to cry again. I left that Mass with an unshakeable realization of two realities: nothing makes sense in my life without Him, and that I am nothing without Him.

On Tor Vergata Field: Encountering Young People from Around the Globe

When we were camping in Tor Vergata Field, all the young people literally went running from one place to the next because we all wanted to see Papa! Our love for God and the Holy Father was evident in every step we took!

I was amazed to see how so many came from all over the world, from so many different cultures and languages, to experience the Jubilee for Young People. We were not even able to understand each other’s languages, but it did not matter because a shared language of love for God, for the Pope, and for our Church connected all of us.

I could not help but smile and get teary-eyed every time all the young people joined in exclaiming, “¡Ésta es la juventud del Papa!” (Here are the Pope’s young people!) I felt such pride in saying, alongside people from all over the world, “I am proud to be Catholic! I am proud to have a relationship with God!” For once, it truly was the first time I felt safe enough to be my most authentic, faith-filled self.

Journey of Maturing Faith

My faith journey began when I was a child, after my mother and I arrived in San José from Mexico. We found a home at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, where my mother joined a young adult group filled with music, leadership, and retreats. I accompanied her, and through her example, my passion for ministry grew.

Over time, however, due to the demands of everyday life, I began to feel a dullness in my relationship with God. Before the trip, I was going to church, working at the chancery (the administrative offices of the diocese), and taking care of my family. Still, I felt distant from God, like Martha, when Jesus came to visit, who was so focused on taking care of everything that she forgot the most important thing: Jesus himself.

On pilgrimage, being one of one million young people who came together to sing, dance, and celebrate our faith was so inspiring and motivating!  I heard His voice through the pope’s words at Tor Vergata field: “Do not be afraid, you are pilgrims of hope! Be who you were called to be, and you will light the world on fire!” It was a personal message to me because it was God reminding me that I am worthy, chosen, and loved, and not defined by my mistakes.

A Message for Young Adults

I was unsure what to expect when I first planned this trip, but I had a sense that God wanted to tell me something important. I returned home with a renewed heart. Now I want to share that same hope with others, especially young adults who feel unworthy or tired.  I felt extremely blessed and grateful to have attended in person, as I knew many people at home who wished they could have been there too.

To all the Young Adults of the diocese: we are worthy, chosen, and loved every single day! We are all pilgrims of hope, worthy of leadership, and God can use our stories to transform the world as he transforms us with his love. We need to believe in ourselves the way Pope Leo XIV believes in us! We can live this Jubilee moment wherever we are and truly set the world on fire!

A reminder of who I am called to be

Through this trip, God confirmed for me who I am and who I am not. He reminded me of all that I am and gave me the courage not to be afraid to be my most loving self on fire with the Holy Spirit. He literally took me away from everything that was distracting me to remind me that I am because of Him, for Him, and with Him. He reminded me of my true passion to help others out of the dark, hopeless places; that He is Love and love transforms.

And He reminded me of the message He has given me to share. This renewed, strong sense of urgency is what I truly needed to step into becoming the woman God has always called me to be. God is such a gentleman, and while He always stays close, because He loves us so deeply, He also respects us. I will forever be grateful for this historic moment that I had the privilege to experience in person, which renewed my conviction that nothing else matters apart from a relationship with Him who loves me, all young people, and all the world, unconditionally.