Bishop Francisco Conesa: “This is not a shift in Catholicism, but rather an exploration”
The bishop of Solsona noted at the University of Navarra that, although there is a growing religious interest among young people, it is more of a phase of searching for and “ finding ” of faith
Photo: Manuel Castells/Monsignor Conesa stated in his book * discussion paper * that "the Church must be seen as a teacher of spirituality."
21 | 10 | 2026
“We are not facing a shift toward Catholicism, but rather an exploration, because most people have a complete lack of knowledge about Christianity. This is a challenge , and a challenge for us. It is an opportunity to connect with their desires and preferences, to accompany them, welcome them, and offer them experiences of a fulfilling life that will fill their hearts.” This was stated by Bishop Francisco Conesa of Solsona during the opening lecture of the 11th National Conference on Pastoral Care for Young People, “ conference ” update , organized by the School of Theology University of Navarra. In his remarks, he addressed how the search for God manifests itself today and offered some pastoral proposals to support that reality.
Bishop Conesa noted that, despite the context of secularization, “a deep thirst for God persists in human beings” and argued that this search is currently expressed in various ways. Among these, he cited the desire for spirituality, an interest in experiences of transcendence, the search for salvation, an attraction to beauty, and the persistence of manifestations of popular religiosity. He also emphasized that “young people have now completely lost any fear of speaking openly about God.”
The bishop of Solsona devoted part of his “ lecture ” to reflecting on the wounds and difficulties that many people are facing. “Many people come to us and find peace and comfort. We have this therapeutic ‘ challenge ’: offering a word of mercy to those who are hurting,” he said.
From left to right: Gregorio Guitián (Dean of the School of Theology), Bishop Francisco Conesa (Bishop of Solsona), Archbishop Florencio Roselló (Archbishop of Pamplona), and Fernando Milán (director of the JAP 2026).
“We must let God’s will emerge from that tangle of human desires.”
He also warned of certain risks associated with specific forms of spirituality, including emotionalism, syncretism, aestheticism, traditionalism, and individualism. Regarding the first, he emphasized the importance of supporting religious experiences through stable processes of growth in faith: “To ensure that it does not all remain mere emotion, we must establish paths of training and integration into the community,” he noted.
In the final part of his address, he put forward various pastoral proposals, including welcoming, listening to, and accompanying those who are searching for meaning in their lives. He also encouraged sharing the richness of Christian spirituality through prayer, silence, beauty, the liturgy, community, and service.
“The Church cannot be viewed merely as a moral educator or defender of certain truths, but first and foremost as a teacher of spirituality,” he stated. In this regard, he emphasized the need to help people discover the deepest longings within themselves. “We must allow the desire for God to emerge from that tangle of human desires,” he concluded.