By Charles Igwe
Pope Francis has highlighted Blessed Carlo Acutis as a model of joyful discipleship, emphasizing that true fulfillment in today’s world comes from following Jesus.
Speaking to Catholic pilgrims from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland on February 3, the Pope delivered a special message to young people, pointing to the soon-to-be canonized Acutis as a testament to faith and holiness.
“As part of this year’s events, on April 27, we will celebrate the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis,” he announced. “This young saint of and for our times shows you, and all of us, how possible it is in today’s world for young people to follow Jesus, share his teachings with others, and so find the fullness of life in joy, freedom, and holiness.”
Encouraging young Catholics to take an active role in the Church, the Pope quoted his apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit, saying, “May the Holy Spirit urge you on … The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them!”
The audience with the Nordic bishops’ pilgrimage group is among the many meetings Pope Francis is hosting this year as pilgrims from around the world visit Rome in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
Reflecting on the jubilee theme—Pilgrims of Hope—the Holy Father urged the Scandinavian Catholics to find strength in their faith. “It is my prayer that your hope will be strengthened during these days,” he said. “You are surely already aware of signs of hope in your home countries, for the Church in your lands, while small, is growing in numbers.”
Despite the region’s secularization, the Catholic Church in the Nordic countries has seen a steady annual 2% growth, driven by immigration, conversions, and thriving communities. The Pope attributed this growth to God’s providence. “It always grows,” he remarked. “We can thank Almighty God that the seeds of faith planted and watered there by generations of persevering pastors and people are bearing fruit. Nor should this surprise us, because God is always faithful to his promises!”
The Holy Father reminded the pilgrims that their journey to Rome was not the end but part of a lifelong path of discipleship and evangelization.
“As you visit the various holy sites in the Eternal City, especially the tombs of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, I pray that your faith in the Lord Jesus and your awareness of belonging to him and to one another in the communion of the Church will be nourished and deepened,” he said.
Encouraging them to bring the spirit of their pilgrimage back home, he emphasized that faith must be actively shared with others. “A pilgrimage does not end but shifts its focus to the daily ‘pilgrimage of discipleship’ and the call to persevere in the task of evangelization,” he said.
The Pope further called for unity among Christians, especially in times marked by war and global unrest. “In these challenging times, scarred by war in Europe and around the world, how much our human family needs a unified witness to the reconciliation, healing, and peace that can come only from God.”
He concluded by reminding the faithful of their mission: “There can be no greater ‘work’ than transmitting the saving message of the Gospel to others, and we are called to do this especially for those on the margins.”
