An Opening of Faith — Reflections from the Jubilee of Youth
A beginning — through the eyes, and hearts, of the children of GOD
Welcome to Fidei Apertura
“Fidei Apertura” means the opening of faith.
This website was born before the journey even began in the quiet months while planning our trip. Originally, I was thinking of hiking or a travel adventure across the Mountains of Italy! I invited a friend to join me whose faith is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition. He said he would only come if we made the trip a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee of Youth. That conversation changed everything.
As we planned the pilgrimage together, the idea of this website began to take shape. Fidei Apertura was created not just to document our journey, but to capture moments where faith opens… both for those who have long lived in it, like my friend, and those of us coming to it from different perspectives.
By the time we reached London and Paris, the vision had already taken root: a visual diary of faith, sharing stories, images, and reflections that celebrate openness, devotion, and the joy of encountering God in unexpected ways.
And when the journey led us to Rome for the Jubilee of Youth, that vision became reality. The website now serves as a space for both of our reflections, mine as an observer discovering the vibrancy of faith, and his as a devout Catholic witnessing the same moments through the lens of lifelong devotion. Together, we hope to share a fuller picture of what it means for faith to truly open.
The Jubilee of Youth in Rome, 2025
Arriving in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth felt like stepping into a living tapestry of joy. Thousands of young pilgrims from across the world filled the streets, squares, and basilicas with song and prayer.
In their faces, I saw something pure and hopeful: an openness to God, to faith, to one another.
Where older generations might carry faith as an anchor, these young people carried it like a flame …..bright, dancing & contagious.
This wasn’t just an event; it was a movement of hearts. Everywhere you looked, there was energy, laughter, prayer, tears, music - all blending into one great act of worship.
A Moving Moment
As a non-Catholic, I was deeply moved by what I witnessed. I had never seen so many young people from all over the world so eager to receive the Eucharist, kneeling in prayer for over an hour, walking long distances in the Roman summer heat like the 14 km trek to Tor Vergata or even sleeping under the night sky among a million pilgrims. There was a sacred hunger in their eyes, a quiet anticipation that spoke of something far deeper.
I stood among them, surrounded by thousands singing, praying, and waiting. It felt like faith come alive not through words, but through pure presence.
While so many youth could be anywhere else, chasing fleeting excitement, here they were partying for God!!!
It was faith that didn’t need to be explained. You could simply feel it. That kind of openness & that kind of joy is exactly what inspired Fidei Apertura: to share moments where the soul opens, and faith becomes visible.
3 Key Takeaways from the Jubilee of Youth
Faith is alive and it’s young.
Seeing thousands of youth gathered in Rome reminded me that the Church’s future is vibrant. Their joy is proof that faith still speaks powerfully to this generation.True faith doesn’t always need words.
The eagerness to receive the Eucharist, the songs, the tears none of it required explanation. Sometimes faith is best understood through the quiet awe of shared belief.An open heart is the greatest invitation.
You don’t have to be Catholic to be moved by holiness. Witnessing such openness showed me that faith transcends boundaries… it welcomes anyone willing to see and feel.
The Vision of Fidei Apertura
This website is more than a travel log…. it’s a spiritual journey in images.
Each post will reflect moments of faith, pilgrimage, and encounter, inspired by the Jubilee and beyond. Whether in Orange County, California (where I am from at the moment), Rome, Assisi, or the Philippines, faith can be seen everywhere… if only we open our eyes and hearts to it.
No matter the year or the day, our reflections and photos will continue to capture these moments. Small glimpses of grace where the divine quietly touches the human heart.
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
A Prayer for the Journey Ahead
Lord, open our eyes to see You in the faces of those we meet.
Open our hearts to respond with love.
Open our faith to grow, like the youth who sing without fear and walk with radiant hope.
May Fidei Apertura be a window for others to glimpse that same light and to find faith opening in new and unexpected ways.