ROMERO: Aspiring to Holiness... A call to young adults

Photo courtesy of YACMThis summer, 70 young adults from across the Archdiocese traveled to Rome for the Jubilee of Young People. While there were many meaningful moments throughout the pilgrimage, one message stood out in a powerful way. 

During the Vigil at Tor Vergata, Pope Leo XIV challenged us with these words: “Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you.” 

His words reminded us that holiness is not reserved for the few or the perfect. It is a universal call, especially for young adults who are navigating careers, relationships and their place in the world. Pope Leo’s message was not just inspirational; it felt deeply personal. He invited us to take an honest look at our lives and ask whether we are truly aspiring to great things or settling for something less. 

As young adults we should not settle for less but want to be the best version of ourselves. How can young adults accomplish this? The Gospel offers a different path. It invites us to live with purpose, to root our lives in love and to direct our hearts toward Christ. Holiness is not about achieving perfection. It is about choosing faithfulness in the everyday moments. It is choosing compassion instead of comfort, service instead of selfishness, and hope instead of despair. It means allowing Christ to shape us in the ordinary, quiet parts of our lives. 

During our reunion after the pilgrimage, my small group reflected on how we are trying to live out Pope Leo’s message. One person shared that since returning home, they have started to see life through Christ’s eyes, with more compassion and intentionality. 
 
For me, I was drawn to the call to serve the poor and bear witness to the good we would always like to receive from our neighbors. These are not just ideals. They are invitations to live differently, to love more deeply and to remain rooted in our faith. 

Pope Leo encouraged us to reflect on how we are living, to seek justice in order to build a more humane world, to be united with Christ in the Eucharist, to adore Him in the Blessed Sacrament, and to study, work and love according to the example of Jesus. This is not a task or a set of obligations, but rather a guiding path for young adults seeking to grow in holiness through the consistent practice of living out their faith each day.  

In our ministry, we are seeing more young adults who want to answer that call.  
One way we are encouraging this response is through our new initiative, Frassati Service, named after St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. This program offers quarterly service opportunities within our local communities, allowing young adults to encounter Christ through acts of mercy and compassion. It also reminds us that we do not need to go far to live out our call to holiness. We can begin right where we are.  

Like St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, who lived by the motto “Verso l’Alto,” we are invited to live with hope and to keep our eyes fixed on the heights. The pilgrimage may have ended, but the journey toward holiness continues. It is not only a moment. It is a lifelong calling. 
 
Thalia Romero serves as associate director for the Office of Young Adult & Campus Ministry.