In August, we celebrated the Jubilee of Youth in Tor Vergata (in Rome) with Pope Leo XIV. We discovered some amazing stories there, and we want to share them with you now. Here’s what Mia has to say:

My name is Mia, I am from Estonia, I am 22 years old, and I study literature and the Estonian language. Being in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth would have been unthinkable five years ago. Although I have been surrounded by Catholics my whole life, I didn’t share the faith.

My conversion process was quite natural. When I was little, my mother sang and played the kannel in a music group where all the members were Catholic. I grew up among rehearsals and concerts, and I think that definitely planted a seed in my life. My father’s family is Baptist. We went to the Methodist church every Sunday, but at that time I had no interest in faith at all. I believed in the existence of God and never had any doubts about it, but I couldn’t relate to Him.

In 2018, Pope Francis came to Tallinn, and my mother and I sang in the choir at Mass. Last year, I was able to greet him again when I traveled to Rome with my choir. It was also my birthday, and I had the opportunity to give him a letter. I remember feeling very peaceful at that moment.

I am sure that the Pope’s visit was part of what brought my mother and me closer to conversion. In 2020, my mother and I agreed that we would go to catechism classes. This idea came to us at the same time. There was no questioning it; it just seemed natural and logical. But also, after my conversion, I began to recognize God more than before. I started praying more and felt that God was taking care of my life.

Along with converting to Catholicism, another important step on my journey was finding my vocation in Opus Dei. For my studies, I went to Helsinki for a year as an exchange student. I didn’t know where to live during that time. I asked one of my professors for advice, and he recommended that I go to an Opus Dei residence. I went there without any prior knowledge. Since I am very close to my family, it was very difficult for me to move abroad, even though Estonia and Finland are very close. I went to Helsinki by boat with my father, and I remember crying during the two-and-a-half-hour trip because I didn’t want to leave. But as soon as I entered the residence, I understood that there was something there. I didn’t understand exactly what that something was, but I immediately felt good. I had never felt that way before. I felt God's love and grace very strongly through the people who were there. During the year I spent there, I found God more and more every day. I felt as if I had been thirsty all my life and had finally found water there. But when you are thirsty and have never drunk water, you don't even know that water exists, you know nothing about its existence. When you finally get water, then you understand what was missing from your life, even though it seemed perfect.

It’s hard for me to put into words what Opus Dei means to me; it’s something that’s inside, like God. Today I can’t imagine my life without faith or hope. It’s because of hope that all of us young people are here in Rome today.