Sister Damiana, among teenagers on their way to Rome: “Gare de Bergerac, 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2025: time to go home. The first impression is a buzz of voices beginning to tell their stories; a mosaic of eyes full of joy, even if a little sleepy, faces colored by the sun and transfigured by an experience that—I believe—will remain etched in everyone’s memory and heart for a long time. Many of us set off from the Diocese of Périgueux et Sarlat, together with our Bishop Philippe Mousset, and we were there too, on the bus: a hundred young people accompanied by their teachers, priests, and nuns. Destination: Rome, April 24-28, 2025.

When we organized the Jubilé des Ados, the jubilee for Adolescents, the young people wanted to attend the canonization of Carlo Acutis (whom they knew something about and felt very close to because of his age and his teenage life, which was similar to theirs) and to see Pope Francis up close.

A few days before departure, we realized that our pilgrimage would take on a different form than expected, and this allowed us to focus on the essence of our experience and go deeper.

“Why are you going to Rome?” During the trip there, the young people were encouraged to explain, in simple terms, the reason for their choice, and one of the young women, who was very moved, told us that she wanted to live this experience to rediscover her faith, which was being severely tested at this moment in her life.

“And why sleeping bags and mattresses?” A camp of tents in the middle of the garden of the Generalate did not go unnoticed during these days, nor did the voices of the young men and women. The evening prayer at the end of the day, in a circle on the lawn, by the light of small lamps, was very moving.

“And why get up at 5:00 a.m.?” A strong emotion swept through the group on Saturday morning in St. Peter’s Square when a long applause involved those present in a gesture of embrace, gratitude, and emotion at the sight of the coffin containing the remains of Pope Francis leaving the basilica to be placed in front of the altar.

Personally, I experienced this pilgrimage on two levels: accompanying the young people in living their jubilee through the various events offered and in their reflection during group moments, so that they could grow in faith and experience the Church; living a time for myself, to repeat my yes as a woman consecrated to God, to give thanks to the Lord for all his gifts and to ask for the grace of a Word that will allow me to take a step further in hope and in being a witness where the Lord entrusts his precious and beloved children to me. Two levels, united by the encounter with the Risen Lord!

We sang at the top of our voices: “Risquerons-nous d’être amis dans le Seigneur ? Oserons-nous ouvrir nos portes, ouvrir nos cœurs à cet Homme, ce Dieu pour la vie qui nous nomme ‘amis’ ?” [Will we risk being friends in the Lord? Will we dare to open our doors, open our hearts to this Man, to this God for life who calls us “friends”?].

Each of us has received, in these days—allow me to use this image—seeds to plant, nurture, and bring to fruition: a word, a gesture, a special moment that will enable us to go further on our journey of faith.

Personally, I returned home with two seeds to germinate. I experienced the day of Pope Francis’ funeral with the awareness of receiving an important legacy, a true testament, repeating in my heart the three words he had given us at the end of the 2021 General Chapter: CLOSENESS, COMPASSION, TENDERNESS. It was a very powerful moment for me, an even greater commitment to live and witness God’s love in this way.

And the second phrase that stayed with me was “DO YOU LOVE ME?,” which we heard in the Gospel proclamation during the funeral and which struck me in the afternoon when we gathered in the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle for the sacrament of reconciliation. I cherish the grace of forgiveness as a powerful moment.

Carrying with us numerous intentions that family and friends entrusted to us, we have now returned to our daily lives with a great sense of gratitude for what we have experienced and with a responsibility: go and tell my brothers and sisters that it is beautiful to open their hearts to this God who calls us “friends.”

Sister Damiana

Community of Trélissac, France

Here is a selection of frames from: https://diocese24.fr/pelerinage-jubilaire-diocesain-interview-au-parisien/