Fordham University’s Office of Campus Ministry sent an email to students last fall, inviting them to apply for a trip to Rome that would take place in July 2025.

This summer, all five of the accepted candidates had the opportunity to travel to Rome to take part in World Youth Day celebrations with Catholics from around the world.

The students, who were there from July 27 to Aug. 4, got to participate in a pilgrimage, visit tourist attractions, such as the Coliseum and the Vatican and connect with members of the global Catholic community.

“There were two pillars to our time in Rome. The first was completing the regular pilgrimage to Rome by visiting the four Papal Basilicas and going through the four holy doors that are only open every 25 years,” said Aidan Nanquil, FCRH ’27, as he was describing his experience on the trip. “The other pillar was participating in the World Youth Day with the Catholics there.”

Nanquil said he was very grateful to have been able to participate in the trip. “I have never been to Rome and it’s always felt like a dream, something like an unattainable goal to ever really visit,” he said. Nanquil added on, “Being in Rome at the same time as one million other Catholics, meaning that people from Brazil, Argentina, Jordan, like all over the world, is just a real privilege to experience what the church is as a global community.”