Jesus Youth: definitive Statutes approved and Audience with Pope Leo XIV

The International Conference of the Jesus Youth international movement took place from 21 to 25 October 2026 at the Mariapoli Centre in Castel Gandolfo.

The gathering, which brought together 12 bishops, around 100 priests and no fewer than 1,128 delegates from 42 countries around the world, celebrated the 41st anniversary of the movement’s founding under the theme “Go to the ends of the earth”. The event marked a milestone for the movement, which originated in Kerala, India, following the presentation of the Decree of Definitive Approval of the Statutes by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

The first day of the conference was attended by the Dicastery’s Adjunct Secretary, His Excellency Monsignor Dario Gervasi, who presided over the opening Holy Mass, accompanied by Fr Giovanni Buontempo, an official of the Dicastery. Philip Milligan and Alexander Bothe, also officials of the Dicastery, took part in a panel discussion on Thursday.

Faith and communion: antidotes to today’s struggles

Monsignor Dario Gervasi, who presided over the opening Holy Mass, highlighted the extraordinary richness of Jesus Youth and its forty years of evangelisation work amongst young people. Addressing the participants directly, he emphasised that the real challenge of our times is not to lose the enthusiasm of faith and to cultivate communion as an antidote to the trials of today’s world: ‘We must not be afraid of losing our youth; we must be far more afraid of losing the enthusiasm of faith!’. He then highlighted that community life is very important for proclaiming the Gospel: “Today the world needs people who are capable of living together in the light of the Gospel. A community that lives the Gospel is a light for the world.”

Immediately at the end of the celebration of Holy Mass, the Decree of definitive approval of the Statutes of Jesus Youth was presented to Dr Midhun Paul, General Coordinator.

Ecclesial maturity, the centrality of Christ and formation

Fr Giovanni Buontempo explained that, having moved beyond the heroic and initial phase of its early years, the movement is now ‘in orbit’ to carry out its universal mission, recalling that the charism of Jesus Youth is not only for India but is a gift for the whole Church.

Philip Milligan explored Pope Leo XIV’s teaching on movements, highlighting how the institution and charisms must work together to keep Jesus at the centre at all times and to always foster unity and the Petrine Mission.

Finally, a reflection on the challenges posed by digital technology and artificial intelligence was the theme of the talk given by Alexander Bothe, who invited young people to draw on the “six pillars” of their spirituality (prayer, the Word of God, the sacraments, fraternal communion, evangelisation and the option for the poor) in order to remain profoundly human and bear witness to the Gospel in their daily lives.

An audience with Pope Leo XIV: apostolic zeal and support for married life

The highlight and most moving moment of the conference took place on the morning of Saturday 24 October, when Pope Leo XIV received the members of Jesus Youth in Audience. It was a historic meeting – the first time the movement had met the Successor of Peter – during which the Holy Father addressed the young people with words of deep affection and great encouragement for their missionary commitment throughout the world.

During the Audience, echoing the spirit of the ‘Go!’ missionary mandate, the Pontiff encouraged those present to walk with confidence even in the face of the uncertainties of the present and the future: ‘Although many of you live in areas where Christians are a minority, do not be afraid to bear witness to your friendship with Jesus. Young people’s hearts yearn to discover the love of Christ’ .

Furthermore, he urged everyone to nurture their apostolic zeal, to take it to new countries and to work with families to support the vocation to married life: “In a particular way, I encourage you to work with families to support the vocation to married life. Young people need to know that their lives are great and beautiful because they are part of God’s greater plan.”

The Pope placed particular emphasis on supporting married life, asking that it be presented as a sacrament and a plan willed by God, as so many young people from Jesus Youth have experienced: they have married, become parents and discovered their vocation to be missionary families, working alongside ordained ministers to proclaim the Gospel.

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Jesus Youth is an international Catholic ecclesial association committed to the evangelisation of young people and the promotion of their missionary initiatives. The association had its beginnings in Kerala, India, and developed as an active part of the national Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the late 1970s. In 1985, the International Year of Youth, a number of youth groups came together under the single name of Jesus Youth. Subsequently, the movement spread to various parts of India and to a number of other countries. Following canonical recognition granted on 8 April 2007 by the Archbishop of Nagpur, Most Reverend Abraham Viruthakulangara, and on 20 August of the same year by the Archbishop of Verapoly, Most Reverend Daniel Acharuparambil, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India recognised Jesus Youth as a national association of the faithful on 29 October 2008.

On 20 May 2016, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed the recognition of Jesus Youth as an international association of the faithful. The Decree of Definitive Approval of the Statutes of Jesus Youth was delivered on October 21st.