Days for young men in Rome

From March 29 to April 6,2026, this year's Days in Rome took place at the Collegium Paulinum with young men from Austria, Germany, South Tyrol and Switzerland. Theses special days were marked by the liturgy of Holy Week and Easter, by memorable excursions and visits to churches, by deepening our understanding of the treasures of the Catholic faith, and by participating in the life of The Spiritual Family The Work.,

»The days spent with The Spiritual Family The Work have shown me that there is nothing more beautiful than knowing Jesus Christ and celebrating the faith together with others.«

Paul

The opening was marked by the solemn Palm Sunday procession and Holy Mass in St Peter's Square with our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV. For some participants, it was their first Easter in Rome. For all of us, it was the first Easter with the new Pope - an event that remains in our memories as particularly moving.

A highlight of the program was the "Benedict Walk", following the footsteps of Benedict XVI in Rome. The stops ranged from the Church of Santa Maria dell'Anima, where Joseph Ratzinger stayed during the Second Vatican Council, to St Peter's Basilica and to the Palazzo del Sant'Ufficio, where Cardinal Ratzinger served as Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for more than 23 years. It was lovely to visit his former residence, new the apartment of Cardinal Müller who gave the group a warm welcome. Equally impressive was the visit to the Vatican Gardens, where Benedict XVI lived as Pope Emeritus in a small monastery.

»Celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ more conscientiously and in community - that is what I was able to experience during these days in Rome. 'Porta patet, magis cor' - 'The door is open, the heart even more': we were able to experience this typical Cistercian saying at the Collegium Paulinum this Easter.«

Josef

» By spending the holiest days of the year at the Collegium Paulinum (and thus in the Eternal City and in the best possible company), the all-encompassing and life-changing message of Easter truly took root in my heart. I was looking forward to the celebration of the Easter Vigil, even more than I was looking forward as a child to the unwrapping of presents on Christmas Eve.«

David