Asian Religious Witness Jubilee of Consecrated Life as Prophets of Hope and Artisans of Peace

The Jubilee of Consecrated Life, held in Rome from October 8 to 12, gathered more than 16,000 religious men and women from nearly 100 countries, including vibrant delegations from Asia.

For five days, the city became a center of prayer, dialogue, and renewal of consecrated life, with Pope Leo XIV and key Church leaders urging religious people to be prophets of hope and artisans of peace in a fragmented world.

Pope Leo XIV: Consecrated Persons as Witnesses of Communion

During the Mass on October 9, Pope Leo XIV placed the spirit of synodality at the heart of his message. He invited consecrated men and women to live their mission with enthusiasm, walking together in communion with the whole family of God.

“Work to become, day by day, more and more experts in synodality,” he said, “because it is in this style that the Church recognizes the face of Christ walking with us.”

The Pope’s words deeply resonated with many Asian delegates, who come from contexts marked by cultural diversity, interreligious dialogue, and social challenges. His call to live a consecrated life as a “domestic dialogue,” renewed through relationships and daily mission, spoke powerfully to Asia’s lived experience of community and shared faith.

From “I” to “We”, A Mission of Communion

On October 10, the Jubilee turned its focus to the missionary enthusiasm of consecrated life. Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, presided at Mass, reminding participants that consecrated life is a witness of communion across religions and cultures.

Sr. Simona Brambilla, MC, evoked the yobel, the Jubilee horn in Jewish tradition, as an image of consecrated life, with each vocation carrying a unique sound yet called to play together the “symphony of hope.”

Later in the day, Pope Leo XIV encouraged religious people to overcome divisions, forgive one another, and share the joy of their vocation. The day concluded with a multilingual prayer for peace, echoing the Asian Church’s daily reality of intercultural and interreligious coexistence.

Pilgrims of Hope, Artisans of Peace

The closing day, October 11, was dedicated to peace. Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime reminded consecrated persons to be “prophets of hope” and “bearers of living water.” Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI, urged religious people to build ecosystems of peace through genuine encounters, especially with the poor and marginalized.

Workshops on mediation and conflict resolution equipped participants with practical tools to promote peace within communities and society. The Jubilee concluded at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where consecrated men and women from the five continents renewed their profession of faith, committing to live as pilgrims of hope on the path of peace.

Voices from Asia: Faith Strengthened, Mission Renewed

For many Asian consecrated persons, the Jubilee was a life-giving and faith-deepening experience.

Sr. Jenni, from the Handmaids of Jesus in East Timor, described the gathering as a moment of grace:

“This experience strengthens my faith, enriches my vocation, and inspires me to continue serving with renewed zeal. I hope to return home with a renewed spirit of listening to the Holy Spirit, to others, and to the needs of our world.”

Br. David Ryan Silva, an Indian Christian Brother currently based in Rome, shared how the gathering rekindled his joy in living the Gospel:

“Just being here has lifted my spirit. Seeing so many consecrated men and women reminds me of how powerful religious life is in the Church today. I hope to bring back to my brothers a renewed commitment to keep the Gospel at the heart of our mission.”

Their testimonies reflect the vitality of consecrated life in Asia, where, despite challenges and declining vocations in some places, religious communities continue to live their call as witnesses of hope, communion, and peace.

A Jubilee for Asia and the World

As participants departed Rome, Sr. Simona Brambilla sent them forth with a message that echoed through the halls of the Basilica:

“Let us go, pilgrims of hope on the path of peace, carrying within us the experience we have lived, to treasure it in our hearts and share it with those we meet.”

For Asian consecrated men and women, the Jubilee of Consecrated Life was not only a global celebration but also a renewed mandate to return home with fresh enthusiasm for mission, dialogue, and witness, from everywhere, for everyone.

(Kasmir Nema, an SVD missionary based in the Vatican, contributes regularly to RVA and other Catholic platforms and magazines.)