The Basilica of St. Francis is the heart of the meetings that more than 700 young boys and girls from 26 countries around the world are about to experience following in the footsteps of the Saint of Assisi. It will begin on the evening of Sunday, July 27, at the Sacro Convento di San Francesco in Assisi, the IX International Meeting Giovani verso Assisi, entitled Lights of Hope. The event will culminate, starting July 31, with participation in the Youth Jubilee in Rome. The title of the event - Lights of Hope - fits fully into the journey of the universal Church and that of the 800th anniversary of the composition of the Canticle of Creatures. Setting out on the journey, one will go in search of these lights, namely the apostles and Franciscan saints, who even today with their lives, teaching and inspirations can direct and accompany the journey of young people behind Christ, the true light that does not fade and the true hope that does not disappoint. This is a strong proposal, particularly meaningful and positively provocative, in a context such as ours, in which positive references and models are often ignored or trivialized, even by the media. To desire, to fail, to be born again, to depart: these are the themes around which the journey will develop, which starts from the places of the life of Francis of Assisi, with activities and moments of reflection that will take place between the Sacro Convento, the Eremo degli Stazzi, the Eremo delle Carceri, the Porziuncola, the Protoconvent of Rivotorto and San Damiano. In Rome, the young Franciscans will experience, from August 1-3, first the penitential liturgy and pilgrimage to the Door of Forgiveness, then the Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, Friar Carlos Trovarelli, at the Seraphicum complex, and finally the vigil and concluding Eucharistic celebration at Tor Vergata, both presided over by Pope Leo XIV.