Catholic Youth

The Latest

Saint Josemaría Escrivá inspired and promoted UNIV, an international meeting of young university students seeking to deepen their faith. Since 1968, thousands of students travel to Rome every Holy Week for this purpose.

Thousands of young people gather in Rome to delve deeper into meaning of Holy Week

Mar 25, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

St. Josemaría Escrivá inspired and promoted UNIV, an international meeting of young university students seeking to deepen their faith. Read more

Pope Francis smiles while addressing pilgrims at a vigil gathering on Aug. 5, 2023, at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.

Pope Francis invites young people to be ‘God’s answer’ to a hopeless world

Nov 14, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope’s message on the theme “Rejoicing in Hope,” was released ahead of the next diocesan World Youth Day, to... Read more

Wyatt Olivas, a university student from the United States, at a press conference on the Synod of Synodality in Rome being held in October 2023.

Pope Francis signs ‘sick note’ for youngest participant of the Synod on Synodality

Oct 27, 2023

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Wyatt Olivas, 19, approached Pope Francis to ask if the pontiff would sign a letter requesting a few days of... Read more

Seven-year-old Mary Stegmueller of Colorado has been battling cancer since she was 4 years old, but her cancer is spreading.

Catholic community grants wish of girl fighting cancer to see Luke Bryan live

Jul 28, 2023

By Aaron Lambert

Seven-year-old Mary Stegmueller is a fighter. She has been battling cancer since she was 4 years old, but her cancer... Read more

Young people at a July 14, 2023, sendoff Mass for Chilean Catholic college students ahead of their winter break missionary work.

1,000 Chilean college students go out on mission projects during their winter break

Jul 19, 2023

By Julieta Villar

One thousand students from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile set off July 14 for missions projects over their winter... Read more

Young people from Spain will make a pilgrimage for 40 days to World Youth Day in Lisbon on Aug. 1–6, 2023.

Close to 100 Spanish youths to walk almost 800 miles to World Youth Day in Lisbon

Jun 28, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

This pilgrimage will also serve as a fundraiser to restore the chapel of the old Mental Institute of the Holy... Read more

Pope Francis participated in a meeting with youth at the Sacred Heart School in Awli, Bahrain, on Nov. 5, 2022.

Pope Francis to youth in Bahrain: ‘The Church needs you!’

Nov 5, 2022

By Shannon Mullen

The pope’s historic trip to Bahrain continued Sunday with a meeting with young people at a Catholic school. Read more

The pilgrim image of Maria de Itatí and the multitude of pilgrims in front of the basilica at the Shrine of the Virgin of Itatí in the Archdiocese of Corrientes, Argentina, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.

300,000 youths make pilgrimage to Virgin of Itatí in Argentina

Sep 20, 2022

By CNA Staff

Under the theme “Together with Mary, we meet again as a synodal Church,” the young people made a pilgrimage to... Read more

Pope Francis greets World Youth Day pilgrims in Panama.

Arise to serve others, Pope Francis urges in World Youth Day message

Sep 12, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Pope Francis has released his message ahead of the international World Youth Day next year, imploring young people across the... Read more

Pope Francis, pictured in St. Peter's Square Oct. 14, 2017.

Pope Francis: Conscientious objector Bl. Franz Jägerstätter an example for youth

Jul 11, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on Monday invited young people to learn the story of Bl. Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector who was... Read more

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22,000 young people pray for peace at Catholic festival in Poland

Jun 6, 2022

By Justyna Galant

Young Ukrainians took part in the Lednica 2000 meeting on June 4. Read more

Pope Francis greets 80,000 teens on pilgrimage in St. Peter’s Square on April 18, 2022.

Pope Francis tells 80,000 teens to ask Our Lady for courage to do God’s will

Apr 19, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The youth pilgrimage was organized in an effort to reach out to young people whose lives were upended during the... Read more

A detail from a poster for the Don Bosco Global Film Festival.

Salesians asked young people to make short films about hope. They got a big response

Nov 16, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The inaugural Don Bosco Global Film Festival has received more than 1,500 entries. Read more

Young people pray in Centro San Lorenzo on St. John Paul II's feast day 2018.

Young people pray for St. John Paul II’s intercession during youth synod

Oct 23, 2018

By Courtney Mares

The adoration holy hour on Saint John Paul II’s feast day included meditations on the pope’s Gospel reflections in St.... Read more

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles leads Eucharistic adoration at the City of Saints conference, Aug. 6, 2017. Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

LA archdiocese hosts youth conference to inspire sanctity

Aug 8, 2017

More than 1,600 youth gathered at the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles this weekend for the third... Read more

Pope Francis greets youth pilgrims at Santo Tomas University in Manila on Jan. 18, 2015.

The Church and society need you, Pope Francis tells youth

Mar 21, 2017

On Tuesday Pope Francis released a video message to youth in advance of the next World Youth Day, to be... Read more

Pope Francis laughing outside of St. Peter's Basilica during the general audience on April 1, 2015.

Homework from Pope Francis: Let your joy be contagious

Dec 19, 2016

Young Catholics can be a force for joy and peace, Pope Francis told an audience with Catholic Action on Monday.  Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the International Congress of vocation ministry in Vatican City, Oct. 21, 2016.

Pope Francis: Where are vocations from? An encounter with God

Oct 21, 2016

By Elise Harris

When it comes to promoting vocations in the Church, Pope Francis said it all begins with an encounter with God... Read more

The Paraguayan teen girls pose in front of St. Peter's Basilica. Photo

Teen girls cancel Disney World trip to see Pope Francis instead

May 21, 2016

Dozens of teen girls in Paraguay had planned to celebrate their 15th birthday – or Quinceañera – at Florida's Disney... Read more

Pope Francis greets crowds in Tirana, Albania on Sept. 21.

Pope Francis to Albanian youth: Where you exist, there is hope

Sep 21, 2014

After celebrating Mass at Mother Teresa square during his one-day trip to Albania, Pope Francis led the crowds in the... Read more