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Cardinal Kikuchi to Youth: “Don’t Wait for the Future—Act Now”

Cardinal Kikuchi joins Caritas staff and volunteers for a special Mass at Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere during the Jubilee of Youth on July 30, 2025. (Photo: Facebook: Isao Kikuchi)

As thousands of young pilgrims continue to gather in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth, a special Mass for Caritas staff and volunteers was held on July 30 at the historic Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere.

The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Cardinal Isao Kikuchi, SVD, President of Caritas Internationalis, who delivered a stirring message of hope, mission, and urgency.

Organized by Caritas Internationalis, the event brought together young people from across continents, not only to pray but also to share experiences of solidarity and service.

Following the Mass, participants gathered for a reception and youth meet-up in the Cortile dell’Ala Nuova of Palazzo San Calisto, where they shared stories and learned more about Caritas initiatives worldwide.

In his homily, Cardinal Kikuchi urged young people not to wait for the future but to act now, breaking the chains of despair and becoming living witnesses of hope in a suffering world.

“You are not just the future of the Church, you are its present,” he said. “The world needs your energy, creativity, and compassion today, not tomorrow.”

Drawing from his own experience as a Caritas volunteer in a refugee camp in Bukavu, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Cardinal Kikuchi recalled a pivotal encounter. A refugee leader, rather than asking for material aid, simply said: “Tell the people we are still here, we are all forgotten.”

“That moment changed me,” the cardinal shared. “I realized that while we can offer food, clothing, and shelter, we cannot simply give hope. Hope is born when people feel seen, remembered, and loved.”

The cardinal echoed the words of Pope Francis, who during his first apostolic visit to Lampedusa in 2013, warned against the “globalization of indifference.” The Pope had said:

“We have become used to the suffering of others: it doesn't affect me; it doesn't concern me; it's none of my business.”

Referencing this, Cardinal Kikuchi noted that global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and the coup in Myanmar, have only intensified this culture of indifference, deepening despair across the world.

“In such a world,” he said, “Caritas must be the beating heart of compassion. We must let people know they are not forgotten.”

The Mass was one of several spiritual highlights of the Jubilee of Youth, which officially opened with a liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica on July 29. The gathering has drawn thousands of young Catholics to Rome for prayer, learning, and fellowship, underlining the theme of faith as a journey of encounter and mission.

Concluding his message, Cardinal Kikuchi gave a heartfelt call to action: “You are Caritas. You are the ones who bring light into a world darkened by despair. Let your presence tell others: You are not forgotten.”

 

Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.”  Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.