Youth Jubilee in Mozambique: Promoting Peace, Empathy, and Inclusion for an Improved Global Society
The Youth Jubilee 2025 in Rome has left a profound impact on young people from Mozambique, symbolising a vibrant moment of faith, hope, peace, and collaboration. The Mozambican delegation, comprising of young people from various dioceses and pastoral leaders, reflects the vitality, faith, and hope of Mozambique's youth within this global gathering.
Under the overarching theme of “Pilgrims of Hope”, over 450 youth from across the world, including Mozambican pilgrims, came together, fostering a spirit of journeying together in faith and mission. This pilgrimage is a continuation from the World Youth Day in Lisbon, emphasising an ongoing path of hope and collaboration that transcends national and cultural differences.
For Mozambican youth, participation in the Jubilee represented an opportunity to celebrate peace and hope amid challenges, reinforcing their commitment to being agents of positive change in their communities. The Jubilee encouraged young people to aspire to holiness, spread enthusiasm, and bear witness to their faith, embodying a shared vision for a world defined by peace and mutual cooperation.
Marjú Jumbe, a young woman from the Archdiocese of Beira, found the Jubilee significant because it renewed hope for a different future, especially in times of conflict and war. She believes that true peace must start with oneself and emphasises the importance of being a peacemaker as a Christian.
Samito Zacarias, from the same archdiocese, shares Marjú's sentiments, expressing hope for a true and lasting peace in Mozambique. He identifies selfishness as a major issue preventing peace and reconciliation in the world. Lack of quality education and extreme poverty are issues he considers essential in the pursuit of peace.
João Chicote, another member of the delegation from Mozambique, concurs, stating that peace can only be achieved in an environment of reconciliation, equitable sharing of resources, and inclusion. He believes that if young people cultivate feelings of peace and empathy, they could create a better world and a better Church.
Aurélio Jumbe, another key figure in the Mozambican youth delegation, emphasises the importance of young people acting as agents of change, not just waiting for others to act. His message emphasises that hope is not about passive waiting, but active participation and collaboration. He encourages young people to follow St. Ignatius of Loyola's advice: to "do things as if everything depends on us and wait as if everything depends on God".
The III National Youth Day is scheduled to take place in December of this year in Mozambique, providing an opportunity for local youth to continue the conversations and collaborations started during the Youth Jubilee 2025. The event in Rome ended with a vigil and solemn Eucharist presided over by Pope Leo XIV, with the participation of over a million young people from almost 150 countries.
In conclusion, the Youth Jubilee 2025 has provided a platform for Mozambican youth to engage with global peers, strengthening bonds of peace, hope, and collaboration within the universal Church and beyond. The event has renewed hope, inspired action, and fostered a shared vision for a world defined by peace and mutual cooperation.
Education and self-development are crucial for Mozambican youth as they strive for personal growth, aiming to address challenges such as lack of quality education and extreme poverty to foster a peaceful and cooperative world. Aurélio Jumbe, a key figure in the Mozambican youth delegation, encourages young people to act as agents of change and embody St. Ignatius of Loyola's advice: to 'do things as if everything depends on us and wait as if everything depends on God'.
