The Awakening of the “Sentinels of the Morning”
The nickname “Sentinels of the Morning,” given by Pope John Paul II to young people during the Jubilee of 2000, still resonates today. Sleeping on camping mats in sleeping bags, thousands of young men and women spend the night in the fairgrounds’ pavilions. A few minutes before 7 a.m., they begin to rise and gather for morning prayer. Some pray the Liturgy of the Hours. A large group of French youth forms a circle to pray and plan the day’s agenda.
Others have breakfast at long wooden tables lined along the corridor separating the nine pavilions where they slept. Each pavilion has an efficient breakfast distribution point serving an “Italian-style” meal: croissants, jam, rusks, and fruit juice. Volunteers prepare and hand out the morning meal. More than 250 showers and a long row of chemical toilets are available between the pavilions.
From Paris, a Last-Minute Pilgrim
Between large stacks of water bottles stands an inflatable medical station. Doctors are already busy in the early morning. Among those in line is Eulalie Lescure, 26, from Paris, who has just helped a friend visit the clinic. Smiling, she describes herself as a “last-minute pilgrim”: “I bought my ticket just a week ago and wasn’t very prepared. I came alone, but with a group of about 3,000 people. And of course, every day I meet new pilgrims.”
Eulalie, who attended the World Youth Day in Lisbon, is able to compare experiences: “I’ve already slept here for two nights. I slept well. The only problem was the lights—they were turned off at 1 a.m. and turned on again at 5. So we only had four hours of darkness. The setup is basic, but it’s fine. I didn’t come for a five-star hotel. That’s not the point. I think it was a good idea to have everyone stay here. In Lisbon, I was a volunteer; here, I’m living the Jubilee as a pilgrim. I went to the opening Mass in St. Peter’s Square. It was wonderful, especially seeing the Pope. I’ve visited central Rome and St. John Lateran and met many Italians, Spaniards, and Portuguese.”
Three Years of Fundraising to Reach Rome
From Portugal comes Nuno Ribeiro, 31, from Porto. He arrived in Rome with a group of 29 people after years of effort. “For the past three years, we’ve organized events in our city to raise funds for this trip to Rome. We hope to make the most of everything organized for us. We can’t wait to see the Pope again this weekend,” he says with emotion.
Sleeping in a trade fair pavilion alongside thousands of other young people is not an everyday experience. “We came well-prepared with camping gear,” explains Nuno. “So sleeping in the pavilions wasn’t a problem. We’ve had a good stay these past two nights.” The only challenge—an unmistakable sign of the times—was charging phones: “We use an app to book our meal vouchers, so the phone must always be charged. We managed to recharge it, but it wasn’t always easy.”
He reflects on the presence of young people from conflict zones: “It’s beautiful to meet people from around the world and hear their stories. What we young people can do is learn about the countries and situations of the people we meet, especially those affected by war—often places we know little or nothing about.”
A Miniature World Living in Peace at the Fairgrounds
So many languages, cultures, and different habits converge in the pavilions of the Rome Fairgrounds. It’s a microcosm of the world, with the challenge of sharing limited resources and space. As in the real world, peaceful coexistence depends on everyone’s cooperation.
Sofia Colonna, 22, from Messina, is a volunteer: “I’m in charge of security for Pavilion 7. My job, together with other volunteers, is to make sure the pilgrims are comfortable and that a peaceful atmosphere prevails.”
She knows what it takes to live together in harmony: “The young pilgrims are all very lively, but everything here happens within a Catholic framework of formation. There’s a strong foundation of good manners and willingness to cooperate. Their collaboration is essential to create a positive environment.”
Daniele Piccini, for Vatican News
Source: Vatican News
