Being part of the first generation of a new initiative is both a privilege and a source of uncertainty, especially when it comes to making a lasting impact. I have carried this tension throughout my time in the Youth Council of the Mediterranean. Our yearly gatherings are intense and inspiring, yet sustaining that same energy through regular online meetings proves difficult. Consistency is essential, but rarely easy, even amid our full schedules in Rome and beyond. While formal meetings matter for recognition, one encounter stood apart: a meeting with the Pope—long hoped for, though rarely spoken of.
Then, shortly after Pope Leo XIV’s appointment, the unexpected news arrived: not merely an audience, but a private meeting where each of us could greet him personally. Gratitude hardly sufficed. Through his words and gestures, and even through his public acknowledgment, we felt deeply seen.
His care for the Mediterranean—rich yet wounded—was tangible, and through him, we sensed recognition not only from the Church but from God himself. He invoked St Charles de Foucauld, quoting: “God also uses headwinds to bring us to port.” In time, its meaning became clear: our unity matters more than measurable success. The Council itself is both fruit and legacy, shaped by those who came before us.
Inspired by this, I turned to Nazareth—the hidden life of Jesus—as a reminder that worth lies not in achievement, but in being loved. From this, all service flows.
Gabriel Cassar Tabone
