In the heart of Rome, a group of young European Catholics gathered to present a bold and urgent message: Europe must return to Christ. Their initiative, a manifesto addressed to the continent, declares that they “are not passive spectators of a declining Europe,” where Christian faith has long been pushed to the margins.
In presenting the project at the Vatican, the youth were joined by pastors and Church leaders who affirmed the depth of the spiritual crisis — and the hope that young people still carry.
“There has been a cultural shift in Europe and a significant distance from the Catholic Church,” said Monsignor Mikel Garciandia, Bishop of Palencia, representing the Spanish Bishops’ Conference. “Now we realize that indifference has given way to curiosity… a curiosity that sometimes becomes interest, and interest that at times even turns into desire. So this is a wake-up call to us pastors, encouraging us to work and help many young people encounter Christ.”
On June 11, the representatives of the project met Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square. According to the group, the Holy Father received their proposal with warmth and encouragement.
“We are facing an unprecedented reality in the history of the world: we have a continent where over 70% of young people say they don’t believe in anything at all,” said Fernando Moscardó, spokesperson for the J2R2033 international team. “So we told him [the Pope] that we had come upon this situation and wanted to respond to it — and what he showed us was great joy and hope.”
The group will read the manifesto publicly on August 1, during the Youth Jubilee at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. But their vision stretches far beyond the Holy Year in Rome. Their ultimate goal is the Jubilee of Redemption in 2033, when the Church will commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Holy Land.
Monsignor Graziano Borgonovo, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, underscored the deeper meaning of this journey:
“In 2033, the great Year of Redemption, we hope that the young people of Jerusalem, of all Israel, of Palestine, the Middle East, and all surrounding areas will be able to enjoy peace. Peace is one of the fundamental desires of every human being, and we pray that it may be granted to us — that all the people in power in the world may be able to offer it and find all the paths to make peace possible once again.”
The invitation to sign the manifesto is open to all — people of every age and nationality — through the official website j2r2033. As Europe searches for meaning in a fragmented age, these young Catholics are offering not just words, but witness.
