Pilgrims of Hope: The Voice of Young Ukraine at the Heart of the Church

Around two thousand young Ukrainians, including over one thousand five hundred Ukrainian Greek Catholic faithful from around the world, travelled to Rome to take part in the Youth Jubilee, which runs from 28 July to 3 August. The event will bring together more than half a million participants from 146 countries worldwide.

Mariia-Bohdana Haranovych, 24 years old, Eparchy of Kolomyia.

 I feel a mix of joy, anticipation, and deep gratitude as I travel to Rome. It’s an incredible opportunity to be part of something so meaningful. I expect to experience a sense of unity with other young people from around the world and to strengthen my faith. I also hope to find moments of peace and inspiration during this journey.

 For me, the Youth Jubilee and the chance to meet the Pope hold profound significance. At a time when my country is suffering, this meeting represents hope, solidarity, and prayer. It is a reminder that we are not alone and that the world is listening. It’s a chance to carry the voice and pain of my people to the heart of the Church, and to ask for peace and strength.

Alesia Honcharova, 19 years old, Esarcato of Donetsk, city Bila Tserkva. 

I’m going to Rome with a heart full of gratitude and a soul filled with reverence. I expect to find inner silence — the kind of silence where the Lord speaks. I come with openness to God’s will, with a desire to be filled with His peace, and with the joy of meeting other young people who are also seeking the same light, the same Truth. I want to lay all my worries and hopes before the Lord and allow Him to lead me forward.

For me, it is a powerful spiritual sign. In a time of war, when pain and death are so near, the Jubilee becomes a place of living HOPE. It reminds me that the Church is close, that the world has not forgotten Ukraine. Meeting the Pope feels like encountering a father who blesses his children in the storm. It is an opportunity to bring the voice of my nation, our prayer, and our faith into the heart of the Church. We, the youth of Ukraine, are not only asking for peace — we are also witnessing that faith is stronger than darkness.

I dream of peace — not only the end of war, but deep reconciliation, for myself, for my people, and for the world. I dream that every young person may come to know that their life has meaning in Christ. As a pilgrim of hope, I carry not only my own prayers to Rome, but also the cries of many hearts: for healing, for restoration, for a new dawn. I believe that the Lord never abandons His people, and that even through small steps — like this pilgrimage — He is working great things.

Bohdan Fandyra, 17 years old, City of Chortkiv, Buchach Eparchy.

As I prepare for my journey to Rome, my heart is filled with mixed emotions—joy, hope, and deep anticipation. I look forward to meeting the Universal Church and young people from all over the world who share the same faith. But most importantly, I go with an open heart, expecting inner change: peace, new direction, and spiritual renewal on the journey of faith.

The Youth Jubilee is more than an event. It is a sign of hope. In this difficult and painful time for my country, meeting the Pope means feeling the embrace of the entire Church. It is a reminder that we are not alone. His presence is a testament that God walks alongside us, even in suffering. This meeting is a light in the darkness, a sign that peace is possible and that our faith is stronger than fear.
As a pilgrim of hope, I dream of a future in which my people can live in peace, where children grow up without sirens or fear. I hope for a world in which love conquers hate and justice heals wounds. Personally, I dream of becoming someone who brings light into the lives of others—through kindness, truth, and faith. I walk as a pilgrim, trusting that hope is not just a feeling, but a choice. It is a lifestyle rooted in God.

Panasiuk Daryna , 15 anni , città di Khorostkiv, Buchach Eparchia.

È un segno di speranza. Quando un popolo vive il dolore, la guerra, le perdite, è molto importante sapere che il mondo ci vede e ci ascolta. Essere vicino al Papa in un momento come questo è come stare davanti a Dio a nome di tutta l’Ucraina. È una preghiera senza parole, è la speranza che il cuore dell’umanità sia ancora vivo.

Sogno la pace. Una pace semplice, silenziosa, in cui ci si sveglia senza sirene, dove i bambini crescono senza paura. Come pellegrino di speranza, porto questo sogno nel mio cuore — non solo per me, ma per tutti gli ucraini. La mia speranza è la fede che Dio vede ogni lacrima e che ogni passo verso il bene non è mai vano.

Andrii Stasiuk, 16 years old, City of Chortkiv, Buchach Eparchy.

I am going to Rome with deep excitement and trepidation. This is not just a trip, but a pilgrimage full of hope and aspiration. Expectations, of course, are great. First of all, this is a meeting with the spiritual center of the Catholic world, an opportunity to feel unity with millions of believers from all over the world. Also, I hope for a renewal of strength, for spiritual uplift, which is so necessary in our difficult time.

For me, the Youth Jubilee and the meeting with the Pope at this tragic historical moment for Ukraine hold a special, profound meaning. It's an opportunity to bring the pain and hopes of my people to the heart of the Catholic Church. It's a chance to feel the support of the Universal Church, its solidarity with Ukraine, which is fighting for its freedom and existence. Meeting Pope Leo XIV is not just a meeting with the head of the Church; it's an opportunity to pray with him for peace in Ukraine, for all who suffer from the war, and for the victory of good over evil.

My hopes and dreams as a pilgrim of hope are all about Ukraine's future. I dream of real, lasting peace – not just fighting to stop, but true peace that brings fairness and rebuilds everything. I hope all Ukrainians can come home, families can be together again, and ruined cities can be fixed. I also hope Ukraine has a spiritual rebirth. I believe we'll get stronger, come together on what's important, and build a country based on truth and love. This trip will also make my own faith stronger, give me the power to do good, and help me share hope with others.

Maria Metsan, 25 years old, city of Khorostkiv, Eparcy of Buchach

Sincere emotions of anticipation of a pilgrimage trip, prayers, I expect to meet God in the silence of prayer, in the sincere smiles of young people from different countries, in the words of the Holy Father. I hope to feel the unity of the Church, its living love and the power of faith that unites us all. 
For me, the Youth Jubilee is a reminder that even in the darkest times we are not alone, that God is near and leads us on the path of hope. Meeting with the Pope is an opportunity to hear the voice of a shepherd who prays for peace and supports our people in suffering. At this tragic moment for Ukraine, it is important for me to feel that the world prays with us, that hope is stronger than fear and despair. 
 I dream of peace in our country and that all children of Ukraine could wake up without the sound of sirens. I dream of a heart full of faith and capable of forgiving all offenders. As a pilgrim of hope, I want to bring from Rome not only new experiences, but also the light of faith in my heart to share with others. My hope is that each of us will become part of this great prayer for goodness and love in the world.

Mariia-Yana Bohush, 18 years old, Eparchy of Stryy

To tell the truth, I am full of positive emotions. I am so happy to have the chance to go to Italy with these people, with these goal. I hope I will develop and renovate my spiritually. I was a little scared because of the number of people there would be, but now I want to get acquainted with them and with my group too and have great time for the glory of God. I am infinitely happy that we are all united around God. That is why I am not afraid of anything now.
I want everybody to believe in God, to trust him and to be happy with Him and in Him. I think that world will be better if everybody is with God. And then everywhere will be peace.

Fedorenko Darya, 19 years old, Zhytomyr, Ukraine, Franciscan Youth,Ordo Fratrum Minorum

With what emotions and expectations are you going to Rome?

I am going with trepidation in my heart. It is like a journey not only to another city, but to the very source of faith, to where the apostles walked the streets, where every stone silently testifies to Christ's victory. I look forward to meeting. Not only with the Pope, but also with young people from all over the world who, despite different languages and cultures, have one hope in God. I expect that this pilgrimage will change me from within, help me to understand my vocation more deeply, and, perhaps, will provide answers to the questions that I have long carried in my heart.

 What does the Youth Jubilee mean to you, a meeting with the Pope at this historic and tragic moment for your people?

This is not just an event, it is a sign. At a time when my country is crying, when many are losing faith in justice and in tomorrow, for me it is a voice of hope. To see the Pope, to hear him, to know that he prays for Ukraine is a great blessing. It is also a responsibility: to be the voice of my people, not to be silent, not to hide the pain, but to bear it with dignity, as a testimony of love that does not fade even in war. To be next to thousands of other hearts beating in unison is like a touch of heaven.

What do you dream about? What hopes do you have, you who are a pilgrim of hope?

I dream of peace. A simple, ordinary peace, the kind that we all may have never appreciated. I dream of returning home and seeing not destroyed houses, but entire families. I dream that my children will never know what a siren or a lost father is. As a pilgrim of hope, I carry this dream with me to Rome so that it will be heard. And not only heard, so that something will awaken in the hearts of people, even very distant ones: compassion, prayer, action. Hope is not just a feeling. It is a choice. And I choose to carry it through tears, faith, and song.

Iryna Zavadka , 22 years old, Zhovkva, Eparchy of Sokalsko-Zhovkivska

I am going to Rome with great excitement and gratitude. This journey is filled with joy, hope, and spiritual upliftment. I look forward to meeting other young people from all over the world, to pray together, share our faith, and experience something incredibly inspiring and unifying.

This is a deeply symbolic and moving event. For me, as a Ukrainian, meeting the Pope during wartime is a sign of hope — a sign that the world has not forgotten us. It is also a chance to bring the voice of my people to the heart of the Church. The Jubilee of Youth is a moment of renewal, an opportunity not only to ask for peace, but to become peacemakers ourselves in a world that is suffering so much.

I dream of peace in Ukraine, of the return home of all those who were forced to leave their land. As a pilgrim of hope, I carry in my heart the belief that God is working even in the darkest times. My hope lies in young people, in our ability to build a future free from hatred and violence. I want to be part of that transformation.