The Impact of Flame 2025: A Gathering of Hope and Inspiration
At the OVO Arena Wembley, a remarkable gathering unfolded as over 10,000 young individuals were drawn together for Flame 2025, an event that stands as the largest assembly of young Catholics in England and Wales. Key figures from the Catholic community, including priests, chaplains, youth leaders, teachers, and bishops, joined forces with groups from Gibraltar and the Ukrainian National Chaplaincy to partake in this biennial event organized by CYMFed (Catholic Youth Ministry Federation of England and Wales).
Television adventurer and survivalist Bear Grylls captivated the audience with insights from his book, The Greatest Story Ever Told. He candidly shared his personal battles with doubt, underscoring how his Christian faith serves as his steadfast guide. “Faith is in your heart, faith is in relationships, faith is a constant connection to the Almighty,” Grylls remarked during a conversation with David Wells, a noted Catholic speaker.
“I have many struggles, many doubts. I really don’t have it all together, but I know that I am loved and held, and the light shines,” Grylls added, portraying faith as an adventurous journey. He further described it as “a backbone, a streak of steel, the presence of Jesus beside us in the highs and the lows. It’s fire and life and water, all in one,” rallying the crowd with the words, “You guys are unstoppable!”
This year’s Flame focused on the theme “Unstoppable: Fan the Flame of Hope,” echoing Pope Francis’ encouragement for youths to be “Pilgrims of Hope” during the Jubilee Year. David Oakley, Bishop of Northampton, conveyed a message from Pope Francis urging young attendees to “fan a flame of hope that is truly ‘unstoppable’ for Christ”.
The event also featured Bryan Enriquez, a founding member of the Hallow prayer app, and disability advocate Isaac Harvey. Harvey inspired the youth, saying, “It’s about having faith, having hope, and at the end of the day, having fun. Going with the flow, having fun, and taking opportunities as they come.”
The Apostolic Nuncio in Great Britain, Archbishop Miguel Mary Buendiá, reminded participants: “Let your faith shine brightly in the world, and know that you are not alone on this journey.”
Further emphasizing the core message, the St Vincent de Paul Society reiterated to the young audience: “You are loved, you are lovable, and you are loved by God.”
Adding a global perspective, Brian Maeba, a CAFOD partner and young farmer from Kenya, addressed the pressing issue of the global debt crisis. He highlighted how impoverished countries face crippling high-interest loan repayments to affluent institutions and called on the youth to back CAFOD’s debt cancellation campaign. His impassioned rallying cry, “Cancel debt and choose hope!” resonated with the crowd.
As the event concluded, young attendees were motivated to return to their communities with renewed purpose, determined to spread the message of hope and resilience.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
