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Jubilee of Youth: Over 150 Young Pilgrims Travelling from Southern Africa Urged to Seek Conversion in Rome

Credit: Fr. Motankane Mahlako
Silas Isenjia

By Silas Isenjia

Johannesburg, 25 July, 2025 / 11:42 pm (ACI Africa).

The over 150 young pilgrims, who are set to travel from South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini for the Jubilee of Youth in Rome have been challenged to bring with them “a little bit of growth” so as to evangelize their peers, who may not participate in the event that is part of the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year.

Speaking to ACI Africa on Thursday, July 24, the youth Chaplain of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) said that young delegates representing the three countries at the event scheduled for July 28 to August 3 will be expected to share their experiences with fellow youths upon their return.

Fr. Motankane Mahlako encouraged those travelling to seize the opportunity for spiritual growth.

“When they come back, our expectation will be to see a little bit of growth, development from them. We will expect that they even be in a position to gather their fellow youth and to share their experience of international engagement,” Fr. Mahlako told ACI Africa. 

He expressed optimism that the young participants will “come to be people who are willing to serve the Church openly and knowingly, recognizing that the Church depends on them.”

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The South African Catholic Priest emphasized that the youths should not “forget themselves” and that they should “stand up and actually do things for themselves this time around. They are to stand up and be counted among those people that are participating in building up the society.”

The youths, he said “should not just fold arms and think that things are to be given, or rather they wait for things that come for free. Let them stand up and know that they are the future and the now of the Church.”

Describing young people as “the ambassadors of God,” the Catholic Priest said that “they should even continue to be the true apostles that God is looking and yearning to see in them. They may even be the evangelizers to their fellow young people.”

Of the 156 young pilgrims set to travel from the SACBC region, 123 are from South Africa, 19 are from Botswana, while Eswatini is sending 14.

Speaking to ACI Africa just minutes before the send-off Mass for the SACBC delegation, the Catholic Priest expressed uncertainty regarding the final number of participants from Eswatini, noting that visa challenges may see a lower number of participants from the country.

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On funding the pilgrimage, Fr. Mahlako explained, “The youths are paying for themselves. We did not have any group, or the Conference, contributing for any individual.”

In the July 24 interview, the South African Priest also shared some of the challenges faced in the process of preparing for the pilgrimage.

He highlighted the finance issues and lack of adequate support from parents as part of the major challenges faced during the preparation.

South Africa itself is vast, and challenges of coordination were also numerous, he said.

Fr. Mahlako encouraged all those working with the potential pilgrims from the SACBC region, including Priests, animators, and the coordinators, not to grow tired of taking care of them, all the challenges notwithstanding. 

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“Youth is actually the vital essence of our community,” he told those working with the young people, reminding them to “forever know that we are building the youth, the Church, as we continue to support our youth in our day-to-day life.”

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.