International Youth Advisory Body (IYAB) at the Service of the Roman Curia

“I bring you the greetings of the Prefect, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, and his encouragement to continue being valuable collaborators in the mission of the Holy Father and the Holy See, as well as bridges with your local Churches.” With these words, Gleison De Paula Souza, Secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, opened the IYAB meeting in Rome.

Convened by the Dicastery, the 20 young consultants of the Youth Section, serving the entire Roman Curia, gathered for two intense days of work, called to develop proposals and directions for future action.

Collaboration Offered to the Roman Curia: A Growing Reality

In his opening address, Gleison De Paula Souza introduced them to the reality of the Roman Curia. Through a clear and comprehensive overview of the Curia’s internal structure, the Secretary drew the young participants’ attention (coming from 20 different countries) to the challenges faced by each Dicastery and office: “Your youthful outlook and the skills you bring can be very enriching,” he said, “and can help the Curia develop shared methods of consultation on topics within the competence of the various Dicasteries and institutions.”

As examples of practical collaboration and exchange, the IYAB members visited the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, where they were received by Msgr. Anthony Ekpo, Under-Secretary, along with several officials. They also visited the Laudato Si’ Village, where they learned about the “Laudato si’” Higher Education Center. A series of interviews with different Vatican News editorial teams allowed the young people to present themselves at the Dicastery for Communication, where they were welcomed by Dr. Sergio Centofanti, Deputy Editorial Director.

Finding Ways to Foster Dialogue Between Youth Ministry and Family Ministry

A session with the Family and Life Section of the Dicastery invited reflection on the urgent need to create tangible opportunities for exchange between youth ministry and family ministry.

“The bishops of various parts of the world,” said Prof. Gabriella Gambino, Under-Secretary for the Family and Life Section, “are asking us to help them promote initiatives of dialogue and exchange that allow young people to become aware of their vocation to marriage and family life, a vocation that concerns the majority of young people, given that the call to priestly, religious, or consecrated life involves no more than 2% of young Catholics worldwide.”

During a time of open discussion, Msgr. Dario Gervasi, Secretary, and Prof. Gambino listened to the young people’s ideas, proposals, and concerns, thus laying the groundwork for a common plan of action for the coming years.

Workshops in a Synodal Spirit

The evangelization of young people in today’s contexts, a study of World Youth Day as an event to be lived out in daily life, and the evangelization of young people rooted in their encounter with Christ were the main themes explored in the workshops. Following a synodal style of conversation in the Spirit, and guided by insights from Dr. Brenda Noriega, a former IYAB member, the participants produced several guidelines that will support the work of the current IYAB group, whose mandate runs until 2027.

The Youth Section of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life was in charge of the event, which concluded with an audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.