Grace’s pilgrimage: Thai child becomes symbol of faith, hope at Vatican event
Grace Techamontrikul (second from right) with her parents, George and Maria, at the Jubilee of Youth in Rome. Photo credit: Maria Thearrat Amornnontarith
Chainarong Monthienvichienchai August 5, 2025
Amid the sea of over a million young people from around the world gathered in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth, one small but radiant figure stood out.
Eleven-year-old Gianna Grace Techamontrikul, or “Grace,” inspired fellow pilgrims with her determination, faith, and joyful spirit.
“This is once in a lifetime,” Grace told LiCAS News while taking part in nearly every activity alongside older youth at the weeklong Jubilee of Youth, celebrated from July 28 to August 3 under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Grace attended the event with her parents, George Varakorn and Maria Thearrat Techamontrikul. Despite health challenges and fatigue, Grace embraced the pilgrimage with courage and gratitude, describing the experience as both exhausting and extraordinary.
“Although I am extremely tired every day, I enjoy meeting so many youths from around the world. Everyone is very friendly and warm. This is something truly special for my pilgrimage,” she said.
Spiritual milestone
Grace’s father, George, described the gathering as a profound spiritual milestone for the family. “It was awe-inspiring and deeply moving to witness hundreds of thousands of young people, speaking different languages, from different cultures, united in one faith and one family — children of the same God,” said Mr. George.
One unforgettable moment for the family was being close to Pope Leo XIV during a celebration honoring digital missionaries at St. Peter’s Basilica. Grace’s mother described the encounter as “a priceless moment that will remain an anchor in our faith journey.”
Pope Leo XIV gave an emotional closing message to the more than one million young pilgrims at the closing Mass on Sunday, telling them they are “the sign that a different world is possible,” one built not with weapons but with dialogue and compassion.
“Let us remember the young people of Gaza, Ukraine, and all countries bloodied by war, who could not be here with us,” the Pope said.
Grace’s journey: From struggles to strength
Born prematurely, Grace has faced numerous health challenges, including respiratory issues and developmental delays.
“Grace requires very close care,” her mother told LiCAS News. “During our flight to Rome via Milan, she suffered severe diarrhea—going in and out of the toilet ten times. But she remained patient and calm throughout.”
Despite the physical toll, Grace was especially eager to participate in the Digital Missionary sessions. A budding social media influencer in Thailand, she found joy in using online platforms to share her faith and connect with fellow digital evangelists.
Pilgrimage through history and holiness
As part of their Jubilee pilgrimage, Grace and her family visited Assisi, praying at the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare, and to Blessed Carlo Acutis, who is set to be canonized early next month.
They also took part in the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels on August 2, tied to the Portiuncula Indulgence, which grants a plenary indulgence to pilgrims who visit the Portiuncula chapel in Assisi.
“Rome itself became part of the pilgrimage,” said her father. “The city’s rich Christian history — from the early martyrs to Renaissance saints — invited us not just to witness, but to engage spiritually, emotionally, and communally.”
Throughout the week, the streets of Rome echoed with youths singing hymns, praying rosaries in piazzas, and lining up for hours at the Circus Maximus for confessions, with priests offering the sacrament in more than a dozen languages.
Generation of pilgrims
The Jubilee of Youth, organized by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life with the Diocese of Rome, is the first such youth jubilee since the last Ordinary Jubilee in 2000.
For most attendees, including Grace, this was their first time experiencing the opening of a Holy Door and the spiritual graces of a Holy Year.
“For Grace, this experience is a spiritual milestone,” said her father. “It deepened her understanding of what it means to live as a young Catholic today.”
The 2025 Jubilee of Youth serves as both a celebration and a call to action. In a time marked by division, war, and digital misinformation, the Church’s message is clear: faith, unity, and hope still shine brightly in the hearts of the young.
And in the crowd of over a million, one small pilgrim from Thailand carried that message with quiet grace.
Grace Techamontrikul was part of the SIGNIS FA MULAN programme in May 2024
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Published in: https://www.licas.news/2025/08/05/graces-pilgrimage-thai-child-becomes-symbol-of-faith-hope-at-vatican-event/