Pilgrims from Burkina Faso, Niger Hoping to “experience a profound journey of faith, discovery” at Youth Jubilee in Rome

Ouagadougou, 29 July, 2025 / 10:40 AM

A group of pilgrims from Burkina Faso and Niger has arrived in Rome with the hope of experiencing a profound journey of faith and discovery during the July 28 – August 3 Jubilee of Youth.

In an interview with ACI Africa, the Youth Chaplain at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Burkina Faso and Niger (CEBN) said the group is expected to engage in the spiritual and cultural events organized as part of the Jubilee celebrations. 

“Our pilgrims of hope have safely arrived in Rome, where they will experience a profound journey of faith and discovery,” Fr. Paul Frédéric Sawodogo told ACI Africa following their arrival in Rome on July 26.

Fr. Sawodogo added, “There is a delegation of 16 young people from Burkina Faso and Niger in Rome for the Youth Jubilee.”

Before departing for Rome, the delegation made a stopover in Ivory Coast, where they met and interacted with 15 young people from the country who are also participating in the Youth Jubilee.

Fr. Sawodogo told ACI Africa that pilgrims from Burkina Faso and Niger “experienced significant moments of spiritual preparation, times of fellowship, as well as visits to cultural sites.”

They are to join thousands of young Catholics from across the globe in the Youth Jubilee that is part of the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year.

Several key activities for the youth jubilee have been confirmed, with the official welcome Holy Mass scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, at 6:00 p.m. (local time) in St. Peter’s Square.

Throughout the week, numerous spiritual, artistic and cultural activities have been lined up in Rome under the title, “Dialogues with the City” with August 1 as a Penitential Day, to be held in the Circus Maximus.

Pope Leo XIV is expected to preside over the concluding Eucharistic Celebration and bid farewell to the young pilgrims on Sunday, August 3.