On July 31 Armenian participants of the Jubilee Pilgrimage of Youth visited the cities of Assisi and Cascia. In Assisi pilgrimage was organized to the sanctuaries of St. Francis, St. Kiara, St. Rufinus and to the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Love for the poor, common sense, humility of the 12-13^th centuries’ saints Francis and Kiara became the essence and motive of reflections and prayers for our youth. Spiritual atmosphere of the sanctuaries, the beauty of medieval spiritual architecture, fervent prayers and songs of youth groups from different countries of the world conveyed a new spiritual breath and perception to the Armenian pilgrims.

Blessed Carlo Acutis was particularly inspiring as a young saint, who departed from earthly life in 2006 and will be canonized in September this year. Acutis is the best example of a modern lay apostle with his great devotion to the Holy Communion and with his apostle activities. He developed a treasury website of Holy Communion miracles, which strengthened thousands of young people in their faith. The body of Acutis is buried, at his own request, in the minor basilica of Maria Maggiore in Assisi, in a glass tomb with his incorruptible body. We prayed altogether at the tomb for the strength and holiness of faith of our youth.

In Cascia our pilgrims visited the Basilica of St. Rita, where they prayed for healing of all the sick and establishing of love and harmony relationships in families. St. Rita, like St. Francis, received wounds similar to the Holy Wounds of the Lord – from the crown of thorns. Due to the intercession of St. Rita many sick people have been healed. St. Rita is deeply loved in the Armenian Catholic communities, particularly the 9-day prayer addressed to her.

Translated by Gohar Soghomonyan 

Secretariat of the Ordinariate