What a surprise and what a joy for the members of the EYM, present across all continents, to hear Pope Leo XIV address them directly this year as they prepared to celebrate their international feast on the solemnity of Corpus Christi! More than just a gift, they received a true calling: to feed on the Eucharist in order to better bring it to the world.
Through a personal video message addressed to them, the Holy Father entrusts EYM members with a mission that touches the very heart of their identity: he invites them to become a new generation of intercessors, rooted in the Eucharist and committed to the mission of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.
His words resonate as an encouragement, a sign of trust placed in our EYM youth, and a sending forth on mission. On this feast of the Body of Christ, they remind everyone that the Eucharist is not only a gift to receive, but a presence to share and to make shine in the world.
The Call of Pope Leo XIV
“Dear young people of the Eucharistic Youth Movement, on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, I invite you to turn your hearts to Jesus, the Bread broken for the life of the world. Nourished by His Body and adoring His presence, you will discover that there is no boundary greater than God’s love. You are called to be a new generation of intercessors for a world deeply in need of Christ’s compassion. Many young people are seeking a deeper relationship with the Risen Lord, and you can help them find Him and grow in friendship with Him. I entrust this mission to you and joyfully give you my blessing.
May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.”
From the Eucharist to Mission: A Response to the Call!
In the EYM, the Eucharist is at the center of the movement’s spirituality and life: it nourishes a personal relationship with Jesus and inspires a concrete commitment to the service of others. Therefore, the feast of Corpus Christi holds a special place for the EYM, as it celebrates this Eucharistic mystery which constitutes the very heart of its identity. Through prayer, adoration, service, and solidarity, young people bear witness that encountering Christ in the Eucharist naturally leads them to become artisans of compassion, fraternity, and hope in the heart of the world.
Thus, in response to Pope Leo XIV’s call and encouraged also by the International Office’s invitation to share Corpus Christi celebrations from each country through videos and photographs, EYM members created a true global chain of celebrations that we shared across our social media. This initiative became a concrete testimony to the many ways the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ is lived worldwide.
Activities from all continents highlighted moments of prayer, Eucharistic adoration, vigils, service at Mass, Eucharistic celebrations, formation, community service, environmental actions, youth engagement, processions, apostolic activities, and social initiatives. All these shared moments demonstrate that the Eucharist is not just a moment of celebration, but a source that transforms the hearts of our EYM members and sends them forth on mission.
Thus, after 111 years of history, let us continue to unite our cultures and our hearts to the Heart of Jesus, allowing ourselves to be shaped by His way of loving and serving. Let us continue living the EYM, let us continue living from the Eucharist, the source of our faith and our commitment.
See you next year!
Fr. Miguel Pedro Melo, SJ
International Vice-Director
Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network
Stéphanie Jabre
International Assistant
Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network
