Artur Hanula
The Pope expressed his joy at seeing “so many youth groups that decide to dedicate a few days of their vacation to formation and building friendships,” which “is a sign of hope.” He referred to the international gathering “GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting 2026” in Assisi, which he attended on Thursday, August 6.
It is worth imitating the witnesses of faith
“To all of you, boys and girls who are listening to me, I want to remind you that in these days the liturgical calendar presents us with several wonderful figures of holy men and women,” noted Leo XIV. He encouraged the young people to “get to know them better.”
As the Holy Father recalled, on August 8 we celebrated the memorial of St. Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers, and August 9 marks the feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross – Edith Stein, a Carmelite nun murdered in Auschwitz and co-patroness of Europe. August 10 is the feast of St. Lawrence, deacon of the Church of Rome, while on August 11 the Church particularly honors St. Clare of Assisi, who abandoned a life of luxury to “follow Jesus, poor and humble, following the example of her fellow townsman, St. Francis.”
“Dear young people, let yourselves be captivated by the example of these great witnesses of the Gospel!” concluded Leo XIV.
A Saint from Wrocław
Edith Stein was born on October 12, 1891, in Wrocław into a Jewish family as the eleventh child. In her youth, she lost her faith in God, even though her mother, Augusta Stein, was a sincere and practicing Jew.
In the summer of 1921, she discovered Jesus Christ in a rather accidental way. A few months later, she received baptism, Holy Communion, and confirmation. In 1933, she entered the Carmel, where she received the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. In 1938, she made her perpetual vows.
To protect her from persecution, her superiors sent her to a monastery in the Netherlands. There, on August 2, 1942, she was arrested and, along with her sister Rosa, deported to the German camp in Auschwitz, where both were gassed on August 9, 1942.
Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was beatified by St. John Paul II on May 1, 1987. The Polish Pope canonized her on October 11, 1998, and on October 1, 1999, declared her a co-patroness of Europe. He called Edith Stein “a symbol of the tragedies of 20th-century Europe.”
