“World Youth Day between fraternity and care for creation: promoting fundamental principles and values among young people”

World Youth Day (WYD) is a privileged and unique place where millions of young people from all over the world meet and reflect together on the principles that guide their actions, choices, and lives, with the aim of promoting fundamental values that give meaning and purpose to everyone's life.

Human fraternity and care for creation are just some of the principles promoted and disseminated within WYD by the John Paul II Foundation for Youth, which, since 1991, has been addressing all young people around the world, without exception, supporting the values of the Catholic Church at an international level.

All this was discussed on October 15, during the event organized by the Foundation in collaboration with LUMSA - Libera Università Santissima Assunta di Roma, as part of the Festival of Diplomacy 2025 “The Cost of Principles.”

Fraternity and care for Creation: principles conveyed and promoted during World Youth Days

Led by journalist Deborah Castellano Lubov, correspondent and Vatican expert for Vatican News – Vatican Radio in English, and co-author of the Vatican media documentary “Leo from Chicago” on the American origins of Pope Leo XIV, the guests spoke with students and experts in diplomacy and international relations on the themes of fraternity and care for Creation as principles conveyed and promoted at World Youth Days.

The meeting opened with an introductory greeting from Prof. Filippo Giordano, Director of the Department of Law, Economics, Politics, and Modern Languages at LUMSA, and a speech by Prof. Generoso Rosati, Full Professor of Management at LUMSA.

Bruno: “Diplomacy reminds us that principles are non-negotiable”

The President of the Foundation, Daniele Bruno, shared his thoughts on the theme of this year's Festival of Diplomacy, “The Cost of Principles.” In his speech, Bruno said that “The theme that brings us together – “The Cost of Principles” – invites us to reflect on how much we are willing to invest, personally and collectively, to remain faithful to the values we profess. In a world that often rewards convenience over truth, diplomacy reminds us that principles are non-negotiable. They are the supporting structure of every just society, every vibrant community, and every free person.”

He added: “Today’s youth live in a world marked by conflict, inequality, and environmental crises. Yet they show us an extraordinary capacity for vision, commitment, and desire for justice. WYD thus becomes a global laboratory where spirituality, culture, ecology, and diplomacy intersect.”

Focus on the history and the role of the Foundation in promoting WYD

In a dialogue between Dr. Paul Metzlaff, head of the Commission for Youth and Family Ministry of the German Bishops' Conference and vice president of the Foundation, and Carlotta Marani, official of the Youth Section of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, the specific theme of the meeting was then addressed.

Marani emphasized that "World Youth Day is a unique phenomenon, a laboratory of globalization. It unites the universal dimension of the Church with the particularity of local cultures. In the modern era (transformation, social media, consumerism), the enthusiastic participation of millions of young people reveals a deep desire for authenticity, connection, and the search for meaning and transcendence. But above all, WYD tells a simple and profound story: that of young people who, when listened to and valued, can become protagonists of hope. Even those who do not share the Catholic faith can recognize in WYD a powerful sign of humanity, an experience that unites rather than divides, that invites dialogue and fraternity."

Metzlaff, in video call, focused on the Foundation's role in transmitting and promoting principles and values that are important to young people: "The John Paul II Foundation for Youth accompanies World Youth Day with conferences and meetings, and always seeks to translate the concerns of the popes into political and cultural terms. Together with young people, we seek to build a civilization of love and to promote the principles of equal dignity, unity, freedom, coexistence and reconciliation among peoples, solidarity and the option for the poor, as well as the protection of creation."

Building together on the values of the Christian faith

“I would like to invite all of you,” Metzlaff concluded, “to build on these values, regardless of whether or not you find something from the Christian faith. Our motivation comes from the foundation of Christ, but these are values on which we want to build together with everyone.”

At the end of the morning, two young people gave their testimonies. Vicente Goes, SJ, from Lisbon, and Yeolrin Lee, from Korea. Both, from different points of view, shared their experiences as young people in contact with WYD. Vicente spoke about his vocation to the priesthood and how his commitment to caring for creation has marked his life. Yeolrin, on the other hand, described the lack of knowledge about WYD among the majority of young people in her country, which will host WYD in Seoul in 2027, as a challenge to be taken up.

Towards Seoul 2027: growing in fraternity and humanity

A challenge to be taken up, therefore, will be to continue to promote the experience of World Youth Day among young people so that everyone can be enriched with principles and values and thus grow in fraternity and humanity.