Cork bishop hails Rome visit as ‘Electric Picnic for Catholics’

More than 100,000 young Catholics from all over the world, including 53 from the diocese of Cork and Ross, are expected to converge on Rome next week for the Jubilee of Youth celebrations, which the Bishop of Cork has described as “Electric Picnic for Catholics”.

The event will culminate with an open-air Mass, celebrated by Pope Leo.

The Irish contingent — 600 young people — will be led by Bishop of Cork and Ross Fintan Gavin, who is the chairman of the Council for Evangelisation, Catechetics, and Pastoral Renewal of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

He will also be celebrating the Jubilee of Youth Mass, alongside Pope Leo and senior clerics. Bishop Gavin said: “We have four leaders: Two priests and two young women who are leaders here. There are 53 in our group, from all over the diocese; they’ve had various levels of preparation. We’ve had three or four different events: We’ve had a trip to Knock, we’ve had a day retreat, and we’ve had two or three sessions.

“So, they kind of know one another,” said Bishop Gavin, in advance of the trip to Rome. “It’s very much a pilgrimage. They’re talking about a million young people from all over the world, who will gather with Pope Leo next weekend.”

Other events during the week-long pilgrimage include evening gatherings at the Instituo Santa Maria, at which there will be guest speakers, including prominent Catholic personalities.

They will include Bishop Robert Barron, the founder of the online platform Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and a member of US president Donald Trump’s Faith Council. Other speakers include Sister Mary Grace, an Australian nun with a substantial online presence; and Bishop of Down and Connor, Alan McGuckian.

“Having done this a number of times with young people over the years, it can be a life-changing experience, just to see other people of faith from all over the world,” Bishop Gavin said.

“It’s a bit like your Electric Picnic for Catholics. It has that fun atmosphere of people together, good weather, celebrating their faith and values, so all of that is very positive.”

“Generation Zs, younger people are finding that, probably in the culture they’re living in, some of those deeper needs, in terms of a sense of belonging, meaning, and purpose, are not being fulfilled,” he added.

“They’re drifting back towards your traditional, stable values that come from faith and connection and particularly our own Catholic faith. We can see that in the numbers of engagement in our own youth ministry.

“We’ve a young adult community in the city centre and they meet every Wednesday in Mardyke House.

“These are all small signs of hope.”