Pilgrim altar servers have “magic moment” with Pope Leo XIV

Received by Pope Leo XIV on August 25, some 360 young French altar servers experienced an unforgettable day at the Vatican. Amidst joy, fatigue, and emotion, they felt encouraged by the Pope in their service. He also invited them to reflect on the call to priesthood.

“It's been a long day. We got up at 4 a.m., then we had a procession to enter the basilica. We passed through the holy door, and we waited for almost two hours in a beautiful room in the Vatican, and finally the Pope arrived,” reports Teedjy, a 16-year-old altar server from Vincennes, assuring he is particularly tired but happy. He’s one of a group of 360 French altar servers who had the good fortune to be received at the Vatican by Pope Leo XIV on August 25.

After the audience, he attended Mass in the papal basilica, and as the bells of St. Peter's Square announced that it was already 3 p.m., he eagerly awaited the meal and nap scheduled in the program. “We climbed a lot of stairs and walked through many rooms, but it was worth it,” he says.

Father Maxence Leblond, parish priest of Cambrai, is accompanying the young altar servers. He acknowledges that they have a very busy program. In three days, the young people have already visited Turin, Bologna, and Assisi, from where they left at dawn. “But this morning was particularly powerful, an unforgettable moment for them.”

Pope Leo XIV decided to do this young delegation the honor of welcoming them in the Clementine Hall. In his speech, he thanked them for their service during Mass, “the most important event in the life of a Christian,” reminding them that the Eucharist is the moment when Jesus “saves the world today” by giving himself to all.

Marie, 16, who lives near Charleville-Mézières, particularly appreciated the Pope's encouragement. “Serving at Mass teaches me to be more thorough in my prayers, because sometimes I pray less and feel less close to Jesus, but when I'm serving, I feel closer to him.”

“I love Mass more when I serve,” she concludes.

Teedjy shares this opinion. “I didn't particularly remember anything from the speech; for me the main thing was to be able to see him,” he admits, saying that he nevertheless experienced a “magical” moment. “There are many Catholics who never see the Pope in their lifetime,” he points out.

Pierre, 11, from the Diocese of Créteil, notes that the Pope emphasized the Eucharist, but also hope, “an important theme, which is also [the theme] of the Jubilee.”

He was particularly struck by the fact that Pope Leo XIV read his speech to them in French. “It must be useful to know many languages like him, to be able to talk to everyone,” he explains.

He also noted that the Pope sounded the alarm about the decline in the number of priests in France. “The lack of priests in France, and throughout the world, is a great misfortune!” said the head of the Catholic Church, asking them to seriously consider their vocation without ruling out the priesthood.

Do young French altar servers consider serving the Church as pastors? “I don't know!” stammers Pierre, who explains that he has never asked himself this question at his age. Teedjy, a little annoyed, thinks that “too much pressure” is being put on them and explains that he’s “not very keen” to embark on this adventure, even though he “really enjoys serving at Mass.”

For Garris, on the contrary, this pilgrimage “allows us to prepare ourselves in case we’re called, and if that happens,” it will help them understand “how to receive that call.”

“I'm thinking about it,” he admits. He says he has friends who have already taken the plunge and will begin preparing next year for possible entry into the seminary. “We’re the next generation; we’re the youth. It's up to us to get involved!” he declares enthusiastically.

Father Maxence Leblond explains that he belongs to his diocese's vocations team. “I've noticed that many young people who are considering the priesthood will serve at the altar,” he explains.

But that's not all: “It's a wonderful place to serve the Church in a concrete way, not to help the priest, but to give oneself in service to the community that prays.”

He emphasizes the quality of the Pope's speech, which he found “very appropriate, educational, and clear.” “Leo XIV made the connection with the Eucharist in language that’s accessible to young people,” he says.