In August 2026, thirty young Italians undertook an intense missionary experience in Ivory Coast, accompanied by the Legionaries of Christ. Over the course of fifteen days, they served local communities through evangelization, home visits, and various pastoral and humanitarian activities.

Their itinerary took them to Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, and Bouaké, allowing the young people to experience diverse realities and connect with the country’s people and communities.

In Abidjan, the missionaries assisted with parish pastoral activities, organized initiatives in schools, and visited humanitarian institutions. In Yamoussoukro, their service continued in parishes and through visits to various centers dedicated to welcoming and supporting the most vulnerable individuals.

The group then traveled to Bouaké, where—alongside pastoral work in parishes—they organized activities in the villages they visited. In these settings, the missionary experience became, above all, an encounter: door-to-door visits, conversations, moments of prayer, activities with children and families, and, most importantly, a willingness to listen and share their time with others.

A mission lived in prayer

Alongside apostolic activities, the fifteen days were marked by moments of formation and prayer, designed to help the young people experience the mission not merely as an act of service, but as an opportunity for a personal encounter with Christ.

There was also time for rest, sports, and socializing, which helped strengthen bonds among the participants and allowed them to experience the entire journey in a spirit of fellowship.

The mission also offered an opportunity to gain a closer understanding of the cultural and social reality of Ivory Coast. Visits and formation sessions enabled the young people to delve into the country’s history, culture, and challenges, thereby enriching their missionary experience with a broader perspective on the environment that welcomed them.

The welcome from the Regnum Christi community

A particularly significant moment was the meeting with members of Regnum Christi in Abidjan, who hosted the missionaries during their stay in the country.

Regnum Christi’s presence in Ivory Coast is expressed in a distinctive way through its commitment to education. One of the community’s key apostolic activities is the Highlands School, which supports children from preschool through primary education.

The warm welcome from the local community allowed the young Italians to gain firsthand insight into a concrete apostolic initiative and to discover how the Regnum Christi charism can be embodied in various ways—depending on the needs and characteristics of each region—ranging from parish-based missions and the education of young children to family support and service to the most vulnerable.

Returning home with a new perspective

After fifteen days, the mission came to an end, yet the experiences lived are meant to endure in the hearts of the young people. Meeting people, visiting villages, entering homes, sharing their faith, and serving others allowed them to experience firsthand that mission is not merely about bringing something to others, but also about allowing oneself to be transformed by these encounters.

Ivory Coast gifted these thirty young people an experience of Church lived out in simplicity, fraternity, and service—an experience they now bring back to Italy, accompanied by the certainty that mission does not end upon returning home. Every Christian is called to carry the Gospel into their own environment: into their daily lives, their relationships, and the communities to which they belong.

These fifteen days were, therefore, not only an experience lived far from home but also an opportunity to rediscover the joy of giving of oneself to others and the responsibility of being witnesses of Christ in the world each and every day.

Photographs: Italy Territory Communications Office