Fr David Stewart SJ of the Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart in Edinburgh offered a moving reflection on Pope Francis’ influence on younger generations in a recent broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland. You can listen to the full programme on BBC Sounds here.
In his reflection, Fr David praised the late Pope for his transformative leadership and the deep impression he made on the spiritual lives of young Catholics across the world.
Fr David recalled the Pope’s early call for a more outward-looking Church: “Not long after the beginning of his papacy, Francis told us that he wanted a church that goes out,” he said, “a church that does not lock itself in a sacristy, but that goes out to the peripheries.” This emphasis on mission and inclusion, he noted, has helped reinvigorate spiritual interest among young adults.
At his own parish in Edinburgh, Fr David has seen this renewal firsthand. In a recent interview with Independent Catholic News, he said: “Here at the Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart, we are seeing on the ground what others are reporting too: new faces every week, especially at our Sunday evening young adult (20s & 30s) Mass, 'The Seven',” he explained. You can read that article here.
This renewed engagement is particularly visible among young people searching for a faith that speaks to their lived experience. Referring to Pope Francis’ words at World Youth Day in Lisbon—“todos, todos, todos” (everyone, everyone, everyone)—Fr David added: “They are telling us that they are looking for testimony of how God works in our lives, they are looking for truth that they can live by, so we need to be ready to welcome each one.”
Young adults in Edinburgh are warmly invited to attend the Young Adult Mass, followed by a social gathering (‘The Seven’), every Sunday at 7pm at the Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart. To connect with the community, you can follow them on Instagram (@ejc_yam), join their WhatsApp group, or email ejcyoungadults@jesuit.org.uk.
For more information about the Sacred Heart parish in Edinburgh, visit their website
