Caritas Youth bring declaration of hope: July 30, 2025

Leatou Djadi, 20, from Dartford in UK, brought a sharp focus on inequality. “Equality and respect are more and more forgotten,” she observes. “How can it be that people outside a certain border eat well while others right next to them starve? The system needs changing. Now. We were inspired by Caritas Internationalis campaign ‘Turn Debt Into Hope’ that aim at the cancellation of debts payments of low-income countries—we want to build systems that are just.”

Caritas Youth bring declaration of hope

“We, the global community of Caritas Youth, stand together in this Jubilee year, for hope:

We commit to turn our hope into action by:

• Upholding every person’s human dignity when their humanity is denied.
• Refusing to tolerate systems that fuel inequity and oppression, instead investing ourselves into transforming them into systems of equity and justice.
• Promoting peace and reconciliation while rejecting war, violence and division.
• Empowering communities when subsidiarity is not valued.
• Defending integral ecology and integral human development as an alternative to exploitation.

Inspired by our faith and love, we promise to carry this hope into the world, lighting our way like a torch through the darkness. Stand with us and act today, to change tomorrow.”

On 25 July 2025, 48 Caritas youth representatives from across seven continents presented their Declaration of Hope, on the occasion of the Caritas Youth Forum in Rome —a powerful, five-point commitment shaped by their lived experiences, their faith, and a shared belief that the future must be different from the world they’ve inherited.

What brought them together wasn’t only their Catholic identity, but a structured commitment to help people living in the most vulnerable conditions and a clear vision to implement social justice. The bloodshed in Gaza, with over 61,800 people killed, cast a long shadow over their discussions. “When we talked about injustice, Gaza came up every single time,” explains Genevieve Déziel, 23, from Montreal, a Caritas volunteer for over three years and member of the Declaration of Hope writing group. “We spoke of human dignity, of how life is being treated as disposable. It was emotional.”

“The need for such a declaration emerged from a shared urgency among the young people: they didn’t want to simply meet, talk, and return home unchanged”, Rebecca Rathbone, Youth Empowerment and Inclusion Officer, and organiser of the Forum. “Across continents – she explains –  Caritas youth are witnessing growing inequality, climate collapse, conflict, and the denial of basic rights. They felt the need to speak with one voice—not just about their beliefs, but about the actions they’re committed to”.

Vincent Tethani from Caritas Malawi and Dana Theus, leadership coach, during the Caritas Youth workshop ©RamiAwwad

The declaration, written by a diverse nine-person working group, came out of two intense days of reflection, debate, and workshops. Caritas Youth also could enjoy the guidance of a professional leadership coach, Dana Theus, founder of InPower Coaching, who made a valuable contribution by leading a session on leadership and intergenerational dynamics. While teaching young people techniques to be heard by the senior leadership, she also encouraged them to use the same skills—dialogue, active listening, and finding common ground—to work together across their diverse perspectives in writing the Declaration of Hope. The young delegates split into language-based working groups to ensure every voice was heard. Some came from war-torn countries. Others from island nations already suffering the impacts of climate change in the Pacific Ocean. “We wanted it to be inclusive, and real,” says Genevieve. “We chose our words carefully. The word “torch”, for instance was deliberate, because it’s not just a light, it’s something you carry, something you pass on hand to hand.”

The program of the Forum was full of working sessions but it also included some space for informal encounter. From the moment the youth arrived, the atmosphere in Casa Bon Pastor- the venue in front of the Vatican where they stayed – was bursting with colours, music, traditional outfits from the different cultures, fun discussions over cappuccinos, and a magical energy that proved delightfully contagious to the no-longer-so-young people gravitating around the event.

Each Caritas young group presented their continent’s priorities from Oceania, Africa, North and Latin America, Asia, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Their styles were different, but the concerns echoed each other.

Peace and Climate change were a key points of consensus. For young people from Oceania, climate change is a matter of survival. “Their islands are literally sinking,” they noted. “Integral ecology and care for creation weren’t optional in our declaration. They were urgent.”

Leatou Djadi, 20, from Dartford in UK, brought a sharp focus on inequality. “Equality and respect are more and more forgotten,” she observes. “How can it be that people outside a certain border eat well while others right next to them starve? The system needs changing. Now. We were inspired by Caritas Internationalis campaign ‘Turn Debt Into Hope’ that aim at the cancellation of debts payments of low-income countries—we want to build systems that are just.”

Disagreements happened, of course. Words like “empowerment” meant different things depending on the region and languages. But the process itself became part of the message. “We made space for every perspective,” explains Genevieve. “It was kind of synodal —the way we walked together through our differences.”

Caritas Youth delegations in St Peter Square, Rome ©RamiAwwad

The declaration was read aloud in St Peter’s the day after, on 26 July. “There’s something powerful about being in St Peter’s Basilica – continues Genevieve – this is the place where the Apostle Peter (the first Pope) stood, and where so many Christians over centuries have brought their hopes and prayers. Saying our declaration here, in the presence of Jesus, made it more than just words. It became a prayer and a promise we now have to live by: to remain faithful to God, to His people, and to all of creation.”

Víctor Genina, Director of Integral Human Development at Caritas Internationalis also agrees that the declaration “is a promise”.  “This declaration is something that says who you are, how you act. You’re never going to feel ready for the challenges ahead – he said in front the young audience -. But that’s where you ask the Holy Spirit to help you see as God sees. If you feel little, it means you’re on the right path. God chose you for this task because of the way you are.”

Moira Monacelli, Director of Caritas Internationalis Confederation Development, also had a message for the group after the declaration was read: “We’re living in times when human dignity is denied every day to many people in many parts of the world. You’ve reminded us that faith and hope are a torch in the darkness; now it’s time to turn that light into something concrete. And while you’re changing the world, don’t forget to nurture yourselves, too.”

The Caritas Youth delegations now turn their attention to the Jubilee of Youth activities and celebrations, with the Mass led by Pope Leo XIV on 3 August. But the Declaration is not something the delegates will leave behind in Rome. They’re carrying it home, back to their countries of origin— with plans to launch new projects and, with faith, joy, and loud voices, turn the hope they found in the Eternal City into action.

By Susan Dabbous, Caritas Internationalis Editorial and Media Officer

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