Declaration of the Manifesto by Young European Christians
In the heart of Vatican City, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere played host to a significant event in 2022. Hundreds of young people, hailing from various European and Mediterranean countries, gathered to launch the Manifesto of Young Christian Europeans. This declaration, signed by young Catholics, marks the beginning of a spiritual and cultural movement aimed at renewing Europe through a deep return to Christ and Christian values.
According to the Eurobarometer of 2022, 42% of European youth express a feeling of existential despair, stating that their lives have no meaning. This manifesto, therefore, seeks to answer the questions of meaning that permeate this generation. The Pew Research Center further reveals that more than 70% of European youth aged 16 to 29 identify as non-religious.
The Manifesto's central message is to reject spiritual passivity and embrace an active, transformative faith life grounded in encounter with Christ, particularly through the Eucharist. It is a call from the younger generation to take responsibility for Europe's spiritual future by placing Christ at its heart.
The objectives of this movement include renewing European identity rooted in Christian values, inspiring young people to embrace holiness, vocation, and mission, and creating a pilgrimage-like journey of faith and witness from Rome in 2025 to Jerusalem in 2033. This symbolic and practical journey represents a path of continuous spiritual formation, outreach, and demonstration of Christian unity across Europe, culminating in Jerusalem in 2033—a significant year marking the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s death and resurrection.
Supporting elements of the movement include gatherings and youth events that emphasize Eucharistic adoration and Marian devotion, fostering a personal encounter with Jesus. There is also a mobilization of volunteers and religious communities to create a sustained youth initiative for Catholic revival across Europe.
The acronym J2R2033 stands for Rome 2025, Santiago 2027, Jerusalem 2033, and represents a long journey divided into three stages. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, extended an invitation to the event, expressing hope that, by 2033, they could all walk freely from the West to the East, together, towards Jerusalem.
During the celebration, Bishop Rino Fisichella celebrated Mass and conveyed Pope Leo XIV's greeting to the participants. Pizzaballa entrusted Bishop Bruno Varriano with the reading of his message during the celebration. The event concluded with an endless embrace and a song full of dreams, symbolizing the hope and unity that this movement embodies.
However, it is crucial to acknowledge the challenges that this generation faces. The World Health Organization notes that Europe has the highest rate of youth suicide in the world. The need of many young people present was to find people to trust, places to talk, and communities where they can be heard.
This Manifesto of Young Christian Europeans, therefore, offers a beacon of hope, a roadmap designed to re-evangelize Europe through the energy and faith of its young people, leading them on a spiritual pilgrimage from Rome to Jerusalem over eight years, ending in a profound celebration in 2033.
Education and self-development are integral components of this spiritual and cultural movement aimed at renewing Europe. The Manifesto of Young Christian Europeans, with its focus on personal encounter with Jesus, holiness, vocation, and mission, encourages young participants to embark on a journey of faith and self-discovery, fostering spiritual growth and community building that will shape their identities and future contributions to society.
