632 young people will work as Italian Government Civilian Volunteers for the Jubilee
Look out for the 632 young people, between the ages of 18 and 28, who are the successful applicants for the Civilian Service program linked to the Jubilee 2025. They are already active on the streets of Rome to welcome pilgrims.
On Friday 31 January, the hundreds of young people were officially introduced at an event at Rome’s Teatro Argentina, in the center of the city. The program is run by the Italian Government’s Ministry for Sport and Youth, through the Department for Youth Policies and Universal Civil Service. It is running 44 specific projects for the Jubilee, with funding of over 4 million euros. They will work with 21 promotional bodies, including church associations, third sector groups and other institutions, on 13 programs, covering such areas as logistics, support for disabled pilgrims, and the communication and dissemination of the values of the Jubilee. These volunteers will join the official Jubilee Volunteers coordinated by the Dicastery for Evangelization who are coming to Rome from all over the world.
The presentation event was attended by the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Mayor of Rome, and Extraordinary Commissioner of the Italian Government, Roberto Gualtieri, with his consultant for the Jubilee, Agostino Miozzo, the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi and the Prefect Ugo Taucer, and the Counsellor to the Undersecretary of the Presidency of the Council Alfredo Mantovano.
"You have a great responsibility, because you will be the pilgrims’ first port of call,” said Archbishop Fisichella. “The smile you give them will be the sign of your availability, of your being witnesses of hope". Archbishop Fisichella encouraged the young people to "live this moment with great enthusiasm and hope" and, in particular, to enjoy the Jubilee of Youth, which will take place in the Tor Vergata esplanade, at the beginning of August. He described that event as involving "a huge community that will make the world understand what it means to live one's youth in the service of others".
For Mayor Gualtieri, "the chance to involve the civilian service volunteers in the Jubilee is extraordinary" and "gives even more substance to an institution [the civilian service program] that is growing in importance". The third sector bodies, institutions and volunteers who coordinate these projects "will allow us to strengthen our capacity to welcome people in all areas, in this truly demanding but exciting challenge,” said the mayor. He added: “The welcome of pilgrims, the provision of health care, providing assistance to the most fragile pilgrims, the cultural dimension, communication… We are convinced that this Jubilee will be extraordinary because it touches very important themes. It is a spiritual journey for believers but one that also manages to speak to the whole world, to all men and women".
Standing in front of the 632 young people, who were wearing the orange bib denoting their volunteer service, Minister Abodi, said he was "a happy minister". He added: "The perspective that you represent fosters in a very real way that hope which is the common thread of this year. The opening of the Holy Doors has a symbolic and profound meaning. They symbolize the opening of ourselves to others. We should all feel part of this great welcome. You are the face of kindness and competence, you will have a
major impact on the experience of the pilgrims. I am proud to enthusiastically welcome you and take this opportunity to renew our collaboration".