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POST-SYNODALAPOSTOLICEXHORTATION

CHRISTUSVIVIT

OFTHEHOLYFATHERFRANCIS

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TOYOUNGPEOPLEANDTOTHEENTIREPEOPLEOFGOD

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25March2019

CONTENTS
CHRISTUSVIVIT1-4
CHAPTERONE:WhatdoesthewordofGodhavetosay
aboutyoungpeople?5
IntheOldTestament6-11
IntheNewTestament12-21
CHAPTERTWO:Jesus,everyoung22
Jesus’youth23-29
Hisyouthteachesus30-33
TheyouthoftheChurch34
AChurchopentorenewal35-38
AChurchattentivetothesignsofthetimes39-42
Mary,theyoungwomanofNazareth43-48
Youngsaints49-63
CHAPTERTHREE:Youarethe“now”ofGod64
Inpositiveterms65-67
Manywaysofbeingyoung68-70
Someexperiencesofyoungpeople71
Livinginaworldincrisis72-80

Desires,hurtsandlongings81-85
Thedigitalenvironment86-90
Migrantsasanepitomeofourtime91-94
Endingeveryformofabuse95-102
Awayout103-110
CHAPTERFOUR:Agreatmessageforallyoungpeople111
AGodwhoislove112-117
Christsavesyou118-123
Heisalive!124-129
TheSpiritgiveslife130-133
CHAPTERFIVE:Pathsofyouth134-135
Atimeofdreamsanddecisions136-143
Athirstforlifeandexperience144-149
InfriendshipwithChrist150-157
Growthinmaturity158-162
Pathsoffraternity163-167
Youngandcommitted168-174
Courageousmissionaries175-178
CHAPTERSIX:Youngpeoplewithroots179
Don’tallowyourselvestobeuprooted180-186
Yourrelationshipwiththeelderly187-191
Dreamsandvisions192-197
Takingriskstogether198-201

CHAPTERSEVEN:YouthMinistry202
Apastoralcarethatissynodal203-208
Maincoursesofaction209-215
Suitableenvironments216-220
Youthministryineducationalinstitutions221-223
Areasneedingtobedeveloped224-229
A“popular”youthministry230-238
Alwaysmissionaries239-241
Accompanimentbyadults242-247
CHAPTEREIGHT:Vocation248-249
God’scalltofriendship250-252
Beingthereforothers253-258
Loveandfamily259-267
Work268-273
Thevocationtospecialconsecration274-277
CHAPTERNINE:Discernment278-282
Discerningyourvocation283-286
ThecallofJesusourfriend287-290
Listeningandaccompaniment291-298
Andtoconclude…awish299
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CHRISTUSVIVIT

1 CHRIST IS ALIVE! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings

youthtoourworld,andeverythinghetouchesbecomesyoung,new,fulloflife.

Theveryfirstwords,then,thatIwouldliketosaytoeveryyoungChristianare

these:Christisaliveandhewantsyoutobealive!

2Heisinyou,heiswithyouandheneverabandonsyou.Howeverfaryou

maywander,heisalwaysthere,theRisenOne.Hecallsyouandhewaitsfor

youtoreturntohimandstartoveragain.Whenyoufeelyouaregrowingoldout

ofsorrow,resentmentorfear,doubtorfailure,hewillalwaysbetheretorestore

yourstrengthandyourhope.

3Withgreataffection,IaddressthisApostolicExhortationtoallChristian

youngpeople.Itismeanttoremindyouofcertainconvictionsbornofourfaith,

andatthesametimetoencourageyoutogrowinholinessandincommitmentto

yourpersonalvocation.Butsinceitisalsopartofasynodalprocess,Iamalso

addressingthismessagetotheentirePeopleofGod,pastorsandfaithfulalike,

sinceallofusarechallengedandurgedtoreflectbothontheyoungandforthe

young.Consequently,Iwillspeaktoyoungpeopledirectlyinsomeplaces,while

in others I will propose some more general considerations for the Church’s

discernment.

4Ihaveletmyselfbeinspiredbythewealthofreflectionsandconversations

that emerged from last year’s Synod. I cannot include all those contributions

here,butyoucanreadthemintheFinalDocument.Inwritingthisletter,though,

IhaveattemptedtosummarizethoseproposalsIconsideredmostsignificant.In

thisway,mywordswillechothemyriadvoicesofbelieverstheworldoverwho

made their opinions known to the Synod. Those young people who are not

believers,yetwishedtosharetheirthoughts,alsoraisedissuesthatledmetoask

newquestions.

CHAPTERONE

WhatdoesthewordofGodhavetosay

aboutyoungpeople?

5LetusdrawuponsomeoftherichnessofthesacredScriptures,sincethey

oftenspeakofyoungpeopleandofhowtheLorddrawsneartoencounterthem.

INTHEOLDTESTAMENT

6Inanagewhenyoungpeoplewerenothighlyregarded,sometextsshow

thatGodseesthemdifferently.Joseph,forexample,wasoneoftheyoungestof

his family (cf. Gen 37:2-3), yet God showed him great things in dreams and

whenabouttwentyyearsoldheoutshoneallhisbrothersinimportantaffairs(cf.

Gen37-47).

7 In Gideon, we see the frankness of young people, who are not used to

sugar-coatingreality.WhentoldthattheLordwaswithhim,heresponded:“But

iftheLordiswithus,whythenhaveallthesethingshappenedtous?”(Jg6:13).

Godwasnotoffendedbythatreproach,butwentontoorderhim:“Gointhis

mightofyoursanddeliverIsrael!”(Jg6:14).

8Samuelwasstillayoungboy,yettheLordspoketohim.Thankstothe

adviceofanadult,heopenedhishearttohearGod’scall:“Speak,Lord,foryour

servantislistening”(1Sam3:9-10).Asaresult,hebecameagreatprophetwho

intervenedatcriticalmomentsinthehistoryofhiscountry.KingSaulwasalso

youngwhentheLordcalledhimtoundertakehismission(cf.1Sam9:2).

9KingDavidwaschosenwhilestillaboy.WhentheprophetSamuelwas

seekingthefuturekingofIsrael,amanofferedascandidateshissonswhowere

olderand moreexperienced.Yettheprophetsaidthat thechosen onewasthe

youngDavid,whowasouttendingtheflock(cf.1Sam16:6-13),for“manlooks

ontheoutwardappearance,buttheLordlooksontheheart”(v.7).Thegloryof

youthisintheheart,morethaninphysicalstrengthortheimpressiongivento

others.

10Solomon,whenhehadtosucceedhisfather,feltlostandtoldGod:“Iam

a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act” (1Kg 3:7). Yet the audacity of

youthmovedhimtoaskGodforwisdomandhedevotedhimselftohismission.

SomethingsimilarhappenedtotheprophetJeremiah,calleddespitehisyouthto

rousehispeople.Inhisfear,hesaid:“Ah,LordGod!TrulyIdonotknowhow

tospeak,forIamonlyayouth”(Jer1:6).ButtheLordtoldhimnottosaythat

(cf.Jer1:7),andadded:“Donotbeafraidofthem,forIamwithyoutodeliver

you”(Jer1:8).ThedevotionoftheprophetJeremiahtohismissionshowswhat

canhappenwhenthebrashnessofyouthisjoinedtothepowerofGod.

11AJewishservantgirloftheforeigncommanderNaamanintervenedwith

faithandhelpedhimtobecuredofhisillness(cf.2Kg5:2-6).TheyoungRuth

wasamodelofgenerosityinremainingbesidehermother-in-lawwhohadfallen

onhardtimes(cf.Ru1:1-18),yetshealsoshowedboldnessingettingaheadin

life(cf.Ru4:1-17).

INTHENEWTESTAMENT

12 One of Jesus’ parables (cf. Lk 15:11-32) relates that a “younger” son

wanted to leave his father’s home for a distant land (cf. vv. 12-13). Yet his

thoughtsofindependenceturnedintodissolutionandexcess(cf.v.13),andhe

came to experience the bitterness of loneliness and poverty (cf. vv. 14-16).

Nonetheless, he found the strength to make a new start (cf. vv. 17-19) and

determined to get up and return home (cf. v. 20). Young hearts are naturally

readytochange,toturnback,getupandlearnfromlife.Howcouldanyonefail

tosupportthatsoninthisnewresolution?Yethisolderbrotheralready hada

heartgrownold;helethimselfbepossessedbygreed,selfishnessandenvy(Lk

15:28-30).Jesuspraisestheyoungsinnerwhoreturnedtotherightpathoverthe

brotherwhoconsideredhimselffaithful,yetlackedthespiritofloveandmercy.

13 Jesus, himself eternally young, wants to give us hearts that are ever

young. God’s wordasks us to“castout theold leaven that you maybe fresh

dough”(1Cor5:7).SaintPaulinvitesustostripourselvesofthe“oldself”and

toputona“young”self(Col3:9-10).

Inexplainingwhatitmeanstoputonthat

youthfulness “which is being renewed” (v. 10), he mentions “compassion,

kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and

forgivingeachotherifanyonehasacomplaintagainstanother”(Col3:12-13).In

aword,trueyouthmeanshavingaheartcapableofloving,whereaseverything

that separates us from others makes the soul grow old. And so he concludes:

“above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in

perfectharmony”(Col3:14).

14 Let us alsokeep in mind thatJesus had no use for adults who looked

downontheyoungorlordeditoverthem.Onthecontrary,heinsistedthat“the

greatestamongyoumustbecomeliketheyoungest”(Lk22:26).Forhimagedid

notestablishprivileges,andbeingyoungdidnotimplylesserworthordignity.

15ThewordofGodsaysthatyoungpeopleshouldbetreated“asbrothers”

(1Tim5:1),andwarnsparentsnotto“provokeyourchildren,lesttheybecome

discouraged”(Col 3:21). Young people are not meant to become discouraged;

theyaremeanttodreamgreatthings,toseekvasthorizons,toaimhigher,totake

on the world, to accept challenges and to offer the best of themselves to the

buildingofsomethingbetter.ThatiswhyIconstantlyurgeyoungpeoplenotto

letthemselvesberobbedofhope;toeachofthemIrepeat:“Letnoonedespise

youryouth”(1Tim4:12).

16 Nonetheless, young people are also urged “to accept the authority of

thosewhoareolder”(1Pet5:5).TheBibleneverceasestoinsistthatprofound

respect be shown to the elderly, since they have a wealth of experience; they

have known success and failure, life’s joys and afflictions, its dreams and

disappointments.Inthesilenceoftheirheart,theyhaveastoreofexperiences

that can teach us not to make mistakes or be taken in by false promises. An

ancientsageasksustorespectcertainlimitsandtomasterourimpulses:“Urge

theyoungermentobeself-controlled”(Tit2.6).Itisunhelpfultobuyintothe

cultofyouthorfoolishlytodismissotherssimplybecausetheyareolderorfrom

anothergeneration.Jesustellsusthatthewiseareabletobringforthfromtheir

storethingsbothnewandold(cf.Mt13:52).Awiseyoungpersonisopentothe

future,yetstillcapableoflearningsomethingfromtheexperienceofothers.

17IntheGospelofMark,wefindamanwho,listeningtoJesusspeakofthe

commandments,says,“AlltheseIhaveobservedfrommyyouth”(10:20).The

Psalmisthadalreadysaidthesamething:“You,OLord,aremyhope;mytrust,

O Lord, from my youth… from my youth you have taught me, and I still

proclaim your wondrous deeds” (Ps 71:5.17). We should never repent of

spending our youth being good, opening our heart to the Lord, and living

differently.Noneofthistakesawayfromouryouthbutinsteadstrengthensand

renewsit:“Youryouthisrenewedliketheeagle’s”(Ps103:5).Forthisreason,

SaintAugustinecouldlament:“LatehaveIlovedyou,beautyeverancient,ever

new!LatehaveIlovedyou!”

Yetthatrichman,whohadbeenfaithfultoGod

inhisyouth,allowedthepassingyearstorobhisdreams;hepreferredtoremain

attachedtohisriches(cf.Mk10:22).

18Ontheotherhand,intheGospelofMatthewwefindayoungman(cf.

19:20.22)whoapproachesJesusandasksifthereismorethathecando(v.20);

in this, he demonstrates that youthful openness of spirit which seeks new

horizonsandgreatchallenges.Yethisspiritwasnotreallythatyoung,forhehad

alreadybecomeattachedtorichesandcomforts.Hesaidhewantedsomething

more, but when Jesus asked him to be generous and distribute his goods, he

realizedthathecouldnotletgoofeverythinghehad.Intheend,“hearingthese

words,theyoungmanwentawaysad”(v.22).Hehadgivenuphisyouth.

19TheGospelalsospeaksaboutagroupofwiseyoungwomen,whowere

readyandwaiting,whileothersweredistractedandslumbering(cf.Mt25:1-13).

Wecan,infact,spendouryouthbeingdistracted,skimmingthesurfaceoflife,

half-asleep,incapableofcultivatingmeaningfulrelationshipsorexperiencingthe

deeper things in life. In this way, we can store up a paltry and unsubstantial

future.Orwecanspendouryouthaspiringtobeautifulandgreatthings,andthus

storeupafuturefulloflifeandinteriorrichness.

20Ifyouhavelostyourinnervitality,yourdreams,yourenthusiasm,your

optimismandyourgenerosity,Jesusstandsbeforeyouasoncehestoodbefore

thedeadsonofthewidow,andwithallthepowerofhisresurrectionheurges

you:“Youngman,Isaytoyou,arise!”(Lk7:14).

21Tobesure,manyotherpassagesofthewordofGodcanshedlightonthis

stageofyourlife.Wewilltakeupsomeoftheminthefollowingchapters.

BacktoContents

CHAPTERTWO

Jesus,everyoung

22Jesusis“youngamongtheyounginordertobeanexamplefortheyoung

andtoconsecratethemtotheLord”.

ForthisreasontheSynodsaidthat“youth

is an original and stimulating stage of life, which Jesus himself experienced,

therebysanctifyingit”.

JESUS’YOUTH

23TheLord“gaveuphisspirit”(cf.Mt27:50)onacrosswhenhewaslittle

morethanthirtyyearsofage(cf.Lk3:23).ItisimportanttorealizethatJesus

wasayoungperson.Hegavehislifewhenhewas,intoday’sterms,ayoung

adult.Hebeganhispublicmissionintheprimeoflife,andthus“alightdawned”

(Mt4:16)thatwouldshinemostbrightlywhenhegavehislifetotheveryend.

Thatendingwasnotsomethingthatsimplyhappened;rather,hisentireyouth,at

everymoment,wasapreciouspreparationforit.“EverythinginJesus’slifewas

a sign of his mystery”;

 indeed, “Christ’s whole life is a mystery of

redemption”.

24 The Gospel tells us nothing of Jesus’ childhood, but it does recount

several events of his adolescence and youth. Matthew situates thetime ofthe

Lord’s youth between two events: his family’s return to Nazareth after their

exile,andJesus’baptismintheJordan,thebeginningofhispublicministry.The

lastimageswehaveofJesusasachildarethoseofatinyrefugeeinEgypt(cf.

Mt 2:14-15) and repatriated in Nazareth (cf. Mt 2:19-23). Our first image of

Jesusasayoungadultshowshimstandingamongthecrowdsonthebanksof

the Jordan river to be baptized by his kinsman John the Baptist, just likeany

othermemberofhispeople(cf.Mt3:13-17).

25Jesus’baptismwasnotlikeourown,whichintroducesustothelifeof

grace,butaconsecrationpriortohisembarkingonthegreatmissionofhislife.

TheGospel saysthatathisbaptismtheFatherrejoicedand waswellpleased:

“YouaremybelovedSon”(Lk3:22).Jesusimmediatelyappearedfilledwiththe

HolySpirit,andwasledbytheSpiritintothedesert.Therehepreparedtogo

forthtopreachandtoworkmiracles,tobringfreedomandhealing(cf.Lk4:1-

14).Everyyoungpersonwhofeelscalledtoamissioninthisworldisinvitedto

heartheFatherspeakingthosesamewordswithinhisorherheart:“Youaremy

belovedchild”.

26Betweenthesetwoaccounts,wefindanother,whichshowsJesusasan

adolescent,whenhehadreturnedwithhisparentstoNazareth,afterbeinglost

andfoundintheTemple(cf.Lk2:41-51).Therewereadthat“hewasobedientto

them” (cf. Lk 2:51); he did not disown his family. Luke then adds that Jesus

“grewinwisdom,ageandgracebeforeGodandmen”(cf.Lk2:52).Inaword,

this was a time of preparation, when Jesus grew in his relationship with the

Fatherandwithothers.SaintJohnPaulIIexplainedthathedidnotonlygrow

physically, but that “there was also a spiritual growth in Jesus”, because “the

fullness of grace in Jesus was in proportion to his age: there was always a

fullness,butafullnesswhichincreasedashegrewinage”.

27FromwhattheGospeltellsus,wecansaythatJesus,intheyearsofhis

youth, was “training”, being prepared to carry out the Father’s plan. His

adolescenceandhisyouthsethimonthepathtothatsublimemission.

28Inhisadolescenceandyouth,Jesus’relationshipwiththeFatherwasthat

ofthebelovedSon.DrawntotheFather,hegrewupconcernedforhisaffairs:

“DidyounotknowthatImustbeaboutmyFather’sbusiness?”(Lk2:49).Still,

itmustnotbethoughtthatJesuswasawithdrawnadolescentoraself-absorbed

youth.Hisrelationshipswerethoseofayoungpersonwhosharedfullyinthe

lifeofhisfamilyandhispeople.Helearnedhisfather’stradeandthenreplaced

himasacarpenter.AtonepointintheGospelheiscalled“thecarpenter’sson”

(Mt13:55)andanothertimesimply“thecarpenter”(Mk6:3).Thisdetailshows

that he was just another young person of his town, who related normally to

others.Nooneregardedhimasunusualorsetapartfromothers.Forthisvery

reason,onceJesusbegantopreach,peoplecouldnotimaginewherehegotthis

wisdom:“IsthisnotJoseph’sson?”(Lk4:22).

29Infact,“Jesusdidnotgrowupinanarrowandstiflingrelationshipwith

MaryandJoseph,butreadilyinteractedwiththewiderfamily,therelativesofhis

parents and their friends”.

 Hence we can understand why, when he returned

fromhispilgrimagetoJerusalem,hisparentsreadilythoughtthat,asatwelve-

year-old boy (cf. Lk 2:42), he was wandering freely among the crowd, even

thoughtheydidnotseehimforanentireday:“supposinghimtobeinthegroup

oftravellers,theywentaday’sjourney”(Lk2:44).Surely,theyassumed,Jesus

wasthere,minglingwiththeothers,jokingwithotheryoungpeople,listeningto

theadultstellstoriesandsharingthejoysandsorrowsofthegroup.Indeed,the

GreekwordthatLukeusestodescribethegroup–synodía–clearlyevokesa

larger“communityonajourney”ofwhichtheHolyFamilyisapart.Thanksto

thetrustofhisparents,Jesuscanmovefreelyandlearntojourneywithothers.

HISYOUTHTEACHESUS

30TheseaspectsofJesus’lifecanproveinspiringforallthoseyoungpeople

whoaredevelopingandpreparingtotakeuptheirmissioninlife.Thisinvolves

growinginarelationshipwiththeFather,inawarenessofbeingpartofafamily

and a people, and in openness to being filled with the Holy Spirit and led to

carry out the mission God gives them, their personal vocation. None of this

shouldbeoverlookedinpastoralworkwithyoungpeople,lestwecreateprojects

that isolateyoungpeoplefromtheirfamily and the largercommunity, or turn

them into a select few, protected from all contamination. Rather, we need

projectsthatcanstrengthenthem,accompanythemandimpelthemtoencounter

others,toengageingenerousservice,inmission.

31Jesusdoesnotteachyou,youngpeople,fromafarorfromwithout,but

fromwithinyourveryyouth,ayouthheshareswithyou.Itisveryimportantfor

youtocontemplatetheyoungJesusaspresentedintheGospels,forhewastruly

oneofyou,andsharesmanyofthefeaturesofyouryounghearts.Weseethisfor

example in the following: “Jesus had unconditional trust in the Father; he

maintained friendship with his disciples, and even in moments of crisis he

remained faithful to them. He showed profound compassion for the weakest,

especiallythepoor, thesick,sinners and the excluded. Hehadthecourage to

confrontthereligiousandpoliticalauthoritiesofhistime;heknewwhatitwas

tofeelmisunderstoodandrejected;heexperiencedthefearofsufferingandhe

knew the frailty of the Passion. He turned his gaze to the future, entrusting

himselfintotheFather’ssafehandsinthestrengthoftheSpirit.InJesus,allthe

youngcanseethemselves”.

32Ontheotherhand,Jesusisrisen,andhewantstomakeussharersinthe

newlifeoftheresurrection.Heisthetrueyouthfulnessofaworldgrownold,the

youthfulnessofauniversewaiting“intravail”(Rom8:22)tobeclothedwithhis

light and to live his life. With him at our side, we can drink from the true

wellspringthatkeepsaliveallourdreams,ourprojects,ourgreatideals,while

impellingustoproclaimwhatmakeslifetrulyworthwhile.Twocuriousdetails

intheGospelofMarkshowhowthoserisenwithChristarecalledtoauthentic

youth.IntheLord’spassionweseeayoungmanwhowantedtofollowJesus,

but in fear ran away naked (cf. 14:51-52); he lacked the strength to stake

everythingonfollowingtheLord.Yetattheemptytomb,weseeanotheryoung

person,“dressedinawhitetunic”(16:5),whotellsthewomennottobeafraid

andproclaimsthejoyoftheresurrection(cf.16:6-7).

33 The Lord is calling us to enkindle stars in the night of other young

people.Heasksyoutolooktothetruestars,allthosevariedsignshegivesusto

guideourway,andtoimitatethefarmerwhowatchesthestarsbeforegoingout

toploughhisfield.Godlightsupstarstohelpuskeepwalking:“Thestarsshine

intheirwatches,andareglad;hecallsthemandtheysay:‘Hereweare!’”(Bar

3:34-35).Christhimselfisourgreatlightofhopeandourguideinthenight,for

heisthe“brightmorningstar”(Rev22:16).

THEYOUTHOFTHECHURCH

34Youthismorethansimplyaperiodoftime;itisastateofmind.Thatis

whyaninstitutionasancientastheChurchcanexperiencerenewalandareturn

toyouthatdifferentpointsinherage-oldhistory.Indeed,atthemostdramatic

momentsofherhistory,shefeelscalledtoreturnwithallherhearttoherfirst

love.Recallingthistruth,theSecondVaticanCouncilnotedthat,“enrichedbya

longandlivinghistory,andadvancingtowardshumanperfectionintimeandthe

ultimate destinies of history and of life, the Church is the real youth of the

world”. In her, it is always possible to encounter Christ “the companion and

friendofyouth”.

AChurchopentorenewal

35LetusasktheLordtofreetheChurchfromthosewhowouldmakeher

growold,encaseherinthepast,holdherbackorkeepheratastandstill.Butlet

usalsoaskhimtofreeherfromanothertemptation:thatofthinkingsheisyoung

becausesheacceptseverythingtheworldoffersher,thinkingthatsheisrenewed

because she sets her message aside and acts like everybody else. No! The

Churchisyoungwhensheisherself,whenshereceiveseveranewthestrength

born of God’s word, the Eucharist, and the daily presence of Christ and the

powerofhisSpiritinourlives.TheChurchisyoungwhensheshowsherself

capableofconstantlyreturningtohersource.

36 Certainly, as members of the Church, we should not stand apart from

others. All should regardus as friends and neighbours,like the apostles, who

“enjoyedthegoodwillofallthepeople”(Acts2:47;cf.4:21.33;5:13).Yetatthe

sametimewemustdaretobedifferent,topointtoidealsotherthanthoseofthis

world, testifying to the beauty of generosity, service, purity, perseverance,

forgiveness,fidelitytoourpersonalvocation,prayer,thepursuitofjusticeand

thecommongood,loveforthepoor,andsocialfriendship.

37 Christ’s Church can always yield to the temptation to lose enthusiasm

becauseshenolongerhearstheLordcallinghertotaketheriskoffaith,togive

herallwithoutcountingthedangers;shecanbetemptedtoreverttoseekinga

false,worldlyformofsecurity.Youngpeoplecanhelpkeepheryoung.Theycan

stopherfrombecomingcorrupt;theycankeephermovingforward,preventher

frombeingproudandsectarian,helphertobepoorerandtobearbetterwitness,
totakethesideofthepoorandtheoutcast,tofightforjusticeandhumblytolet
herselfbechallenged.YoungpeoplecanoffertheChurchthebeautyofyouthby
renewing her ability to “rejoice with new beginnings, to give unreservedly of
herself,toberenewedandtosetoutforevergreateraccomplishments”.
11
38Thoseofuswhoarenolongeryoungneedtofindwaysofkeepingclose
to the voices and concerns of young people. “Drawing together creates the
conditionsfortheChurchtobecomeaplaceofdialogueandawitnesstolife-
givingfraternity”.
12
Weneedtomakemoreroomforthevoicesofyoungpeople
to be heard: “listening makes possible an exchange of gifts in a context of
empathy…Atthesametime,itsetstheconditionsforapreachingoftheGospel
thatcantouchthehearttruly,decisivelyandfruitfully”.
13
AChurchattentivetothesignsofthetimes
39“Eventhoughtomanyyoungpeople,God,religionandtheChurchseem
emptywords,theyaresensitivetothefigureofJesuswhenheispresentedinan
attractive and effective way”.
14
 Consequently, the Church should not be
excessivelycaughtupinherselfbutinstead,andaboveall,reflectJesusChrist.
Thismeanshumblyacknowledgingthatsomethingsconcretelyneedtochange,
andifthatistohappen,sheneedstoappreciatethevisionbutalsothecriticisms
ofyoungpeople.
40TheSynodrecognizedthat“asubstantialnumberofyoungpeople,forall
sortsofreasons,donotasktheChurchforanythingbecausetheydonotseeher
assignificantfortheirlives.Someevenaskexpresslytobeleftalone,asthey
findthepresenceoftheChurchanuisance,evenanirritant.Thisrequestdoes
notalwaysstemfromuncriticalorimpulsivecontempt.Itcanalsohaveserious
andunderstandablereasons:sexualandfinancialscandals;aclergyill-prepared
toengageeffectivelywiththesensitivitiesoftheyoung;lackofcareinhomily
preparationandthepresentationofthewordofGod;thepassiveroleassignedto
theyoungwithintheChristiancommunity;theChurch’sdifficultyinexplaining
herdoctrineandethicalpositionstocontemporarysociety”.
15

41AlthoughmanyyoungpeoplearehappytoseeaChurchthatishumble

yet confident in her gifts and capable of offering fair and fraternal criticism,

otherswantaChurchthatlistensmore,thatdoesmorethansimplycondemnthe

world.TheydonotwanttoseeaChurchthatissilentandafraidtospeak,but

neitherone thatisalways battlingobsessively overtwo orthreeissues. Tobe

credibletoyoungpeople,therearetimeswhensheneedstoregainherhumility

and simply listen, recognizingthatwhat others have to say can provide some

light to help her better understand the Gospel. A Church always on the

defensive,whichlosesherhumilityandstopslisteningtoothers,whichleaves

noroomforquestions,losesheryouthandturnsintoamuseum.How,then,will

shebeabletorespondtothedreamsofyoungpeople?Evenifshepossessesthe

truthof theGospel,thisdoesnotmeanthatshehas completelyunderstood it;

rather,sheiscalledtokeepgrowinginhergraspofthatinexhaustibletreasure.

42Forexample,aChurchthatisoverlyfearfulandtiedtoitsstructurescan

be invariably critical of effortstodefendthe rights of women, and constantly

pointout therisksand thepotential errorsofthosedemands.Instead, aliving

Churchcanreactbybeingattentivetothelegitimateclaimsofthosewomenwho

seekgreaterjusticeandequality.AlivingChurchcanlookbackonhistoryand

acknowledgeafairshareofmaleauthoritarianism,domination,variousformsof

enslavement,abuseandsexistviolence.Withthisoutlook,shecansupportthe

call to respect women’s rights, and offer convinced support for greater

reciprocitybetweenmalesandfemales,whilenotagreeingwitheverythingsome

feminist groups propose. Along these lines, the Synod sought to renew the

Church’s commitment “against all discrimination and violence on sexual

grounds”.

ThatistheresponseofaChurchthatstaysyoungandletsherselfbe

challengedandspurredonbythesensitivitiesofyoungpeople.

MARY,THEYOUNGWOMANOFNAZARETH

43IntheheartoftheChurch,Maryshinesforth.Sheisthesuprememodel

forayouthfulChurchthatseekstofollowChristwithenthusiasmanddocility.

Whilestillveryyoung,sheacceptedthemessageoftheangel,yetshewasnot

afraid to ask questions (cf. Lk 1:34). With open heart and soul, she replied,

“Behold,IamthehandmaidoftheLord”(Lk1:38).

44 “We are always struck by the strength of the young Mary’s ‘yes’, the

strengthinthosewords,‘beitdone’,thatshespoketotheangel.Thiswasno

merelypassiveorresignedacceptance,orafaint‘yes’,asiftosay,‘Well,let’s

giveit atryand seewhat happens’.Marydidnotknow thewords, ‘Let’ssee

whathappens’.Shewasdetermined;sheknewwhatwasatstakeandshesaid

‘yes’ without thinking twice. Hers was the ‘yes’ of someone prepared to be

committed,someonewilling to takearisk,ready to stakeeverythingshehad,

withnomoresecuritythanthecertaintyofknowingthatshewasthebearerofa

promise.SoIask each one of you:doyousee yourselves as thebearersofa

promise?WhatpromiseispresentinmyheartthatIcantakeup?Mary’smission

wouldundoubtedlybedifficult,butthechallengesthatlayaheadwerenoreason

tosay‘no’.Thingswouldgetcomplicated,ofcourse,butnotinthesamewayas

happens when cowardice paralyzes us because things are not clear or sure in

advance.Marydidnottakeoutaninsurancepolicy!Shetooktherisk,andfor

thisreasonsheisstrong,sheisan‘influencer’,the‘influencer’ofGod.Her‘yes

andherdesiretoservewerestrongerthananydoubtsordifficulties’”.

45Withoutyieldingtoevasionsorillusions,“sheaccompaniedthesuffering

ofherSon;shesupportedhimbyhergazeandprotectedhimwithherheart.She

shared his suffering, yet was not overwhelmed by it. She was the woman of

strength who uttered her ‘yes’, who supports and accompanies, protects and

embraces.Sheisthegreatguardianofhope…Fromher,welearnhowtosay

‘yes’tothestubbornenduranceandcreativityofthosewho,undaunted,areever

readytostartoveragain”.

46Marywasayoungwomanwhoseheartoverflowedwithjoy(cf.Lk1:47),

whoseeyes,reflectingthelightoftheHolySpirit,lookedatlifewithfaithand

treasured all things in her youthful heart (cf. Lk 2:19.51). She was energetic,

readytosetoutimmediatelyoncesheknewthathercousinneededher.Shedid

not think about her own plans, but went “with haste” to the hill country (Lk

1:39).

47When heryoungson neededprotection, Marysetout withJoseph toa

distant land (cf. Mt 2:13-14). She also joined the disciples in awaiting the

outpouringoftheHolySpirit(cf.Acts1:14).Inherpresence,ayoungChurch

wasborn,astheapostleswentforthtogivebirthtoanewworld(cf.Acts2:4-

11).

48 Today, Mary is the Mother who watches over us, her children, on our

journeythroughlife,oftenwearyandinneed,anxiousthatthelightofhopenot

fail.Forthat is our desire:thatthe light of hopeneverfail. Mary our Mother

lookstothispilgrimpeople:ayouthfulpeoplewhomsheloves,andwhoseek

her in the silence of their hearts amid all the noise, the chatter and the

distractionsofthejourney.UnderthegazeofourMother,thereisroomonlyfor

thesilenceofhope.ThusMaryilluminesanewouryouth.

YOUNGSAINTS

49Theheart ofthe Churchisalso fullofyoung saintswhodevoted their

livestoChrist,manyofthemeventodyingamartyr’sdeath.Theywereprecious

reflectionsoftheyoungChrist;theirradiantwitnessencouragesusandawakens

us from our lethargy. The Synod pointed out that “many young saints have

allowedthefeaturesofyouthtoshineforthinalltheirbeauty,andintheirday

theyhavebeenrealprophetsofchange.Theirexampleshowswhattheyoung

arecapableof,whentheyopenthemselvesuptoencounterChrist”.

50“Throughtheholinessoftheyoung,theChurchcanrenewherspiritual

ardour and her apostolic vigour. The balm of holiness generated by the good

livesof somany youngpeoplecanhealthewoundsoftheChurchandofthe

world,bringingusbacktothatfullnessoflovetowhichwehavealwaysbeen

called:youngsaintsinspireustoreturntoourfirstlove(cf.Rev2:4)”.

Some

saintsneverreachedadulthood,yettheyshowedusthatthereisanotherwayto

spendouryouth.Letusrecallatleastsomeofthemwho,eachinhisorherown

way,andatdifferentperiodsofhistory,livedlivesofholiness.

51Inthethirdcentury,SaintSebastianwasayoungcaptainofthePraetorian

Guard. It is said that he spoke constantly of Christ and tried to convert his

companions, to the point that he was ordered to renounce his faith. Since he

refused, he was shot with arrows, yet he survived and continued to proclaim

Christfearlessly.Intheend,Sebastianwasfloggedtodeath.

52SaintFrancisofAssisi,whileveryyoungandfullofgreatdreams,heard

Jesus’calltobecomepoorlikehimandtorebuildtheChurchbyhiswitness.He

joyfullyrenouncedeverythinghehadandisnowthesaintofuniversalfraternity,

thebrotherofall.HepraisedtheLordforhiscreatures.Francisdiedin1226.

53SaintJoanofArcwasbornin1412.Shewasayoungpeasantgirlwho,

despitehertenderyears,foughttodefendFrancefrominvaders.Misunderstood

forherdemeanour,heractionsandherwayoflivingthefaith,Joanwasburned

atthestake.

54 Blessed Andrew Phû Yên was a young Vietnamese man of the

seventeenthcentury.Hewas acatechist andassistedthe missionaries.He was

imprisoned for his faith, and since he refused to renounce it, he was killed.

AndrewdiedutteringthenameofJesus.

55Inthatsamecentury,SaintKateriTekakwitha,ayoungnativeofNorth

America,waspersecutedforherfaithand,toescape,walkedoverthreehundred

kilometresinthewilderness.KatericonsecratedherselftoGodanddiedsaying:

“Jesus,Iloveyou!”

56SaintDominicSavioofferedallhissufferingstoMary.WhenSaintJohn

Boscotaughthimthatholinessinvolvesbeingconstantlyjoyful,heopenedhis

heart to a contagious joy. He wanted to be close to the most abandoned and

infirmofhisfellow young people. Dominicdiedin1857 at fourteen years of

age,saying:“WhatawondrousthingIamexperiencing!”

57SaintThérèseofthe ChildJesuswas bornin1873. Atfifteenyears of

age,havingovercomemanydifficulties,shesucceededinenteringtheCarmelite

convent. Thérèse lived thelittle way of complete trust in the Lord’s love and

determinedtofanwithherprayersthefireofloveburninginthe heartof the

Church.

58 Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá was a young Argentinian, the son of the

chiefofaremotetribeofindigenouspeoples.HebecameaSalesianseminarian,

filled with the desire to return to his tribe, bringing Jesus Christ to them.

Ceferinodiedin1905.

59BlessedIsidoreBakanjawasalaymanfromtheCongowhoborewitness

tohisfaith.HewastorturedatlengthforhavingproposedChristianitytoother

youngpeople.Forgivinghisexecutioner,Isidorediedin1909.

60BlessedPierGiorgioFrassati,whodiedin1925,“wasayoungmanfilled

withajoythatswepteverythingalongwithit,ajoythatalsoovercamemany

difficultiesinhislife”.

PierGiorgiosaidthathewantedtoreturntheloveof

JesusthathereceivedinHolyCommunionbyvisitingandhelpingthepoor.

61BlessedMarcelCallowasayoungFrenchmanwhodiedin1945.Marcel

wasimprisonedinaconcentrationcampinAustria,wherehestrengthenedhis

fellowprisonersinfaithamidharshlabours.

62TheyoungBlessedChiaraBadano,whodiedin1990,“experiencedhow

pain could be transfigured by love… The key to her peace and joy was her

complete trust in the Lord and the acceptance of her illness as a mysterious

expressionofhiswillforhersakeandthatofothers”.

63Maytheseandsomanyotheryoungpeoplewhoperhapsinsilenceand

hiddennesslivedtheGospeltothefull,intercedefortheChurch,sothatshemay

be full of joyous, courageous and committed young people whocanoffer the

worldnewtestimoniesofholiness.

BacktoContents

CHAPTERTHREE

Youarethe“now”ofGod

64AfterthisbrieflookatthewordofGod,wecannotjustsaythatyoung

people are the future of our world. They are its present; even now, they are

helpingtoenrichit.Youngpeoplearenolongerchildren.Theyareatatimeof

lifewhentheybegintoassumeanumberofresponsibilities,sharingalongside

adults in the growth of the family, society and the Church. Yet the times are

changing,leadingustoask:Whataretoday’syoungpeoplereallylike?Whatis

goingonintheirlives?

INPOSITIVETERMS

65TheSynodrecognizedthatthemembersoftheChurchdonotalwaystake

theapproachofJesus.Ratherthanlisteningtoyoungpeopleattentively,“alltoo

often, there is a tendency to provide prepackaged answers and ready-made

solutions, without allowing their real questions to emerge and facing the

challengestheypose”.

YetoncetheChurchsetsasidenarrowpreconceptions

and listens carefully to the young, this empathy enriches her, for “it allows

young people to make their own contribution to the community, helping it to

appreciatenewsensitivitiesandtoconsidernewquestions”.

66We adultscanoften be temptedtolist all theproblemsand failings of

today’syoungpeople.Perhapssomewillfinditpraiseworthythatweseemso

expert in discerning difficulties and dangers. But what would be the result of

suchanattitude?Greaterdistance,lesscloseness,lessmutualassistance.

67Anyonecalledtobeaparent,pastororguidetoyoungpeoplemusthave

thefarsightednesstoappreciatethelittleflamethatcontinuestoburn,thefragile

reedthatisshakenbutnotbroken(cf.Is42:3).Theabilitytodiscernpathways

whereothersonlyseewalls,torecognizepotentialwhereothersseeonlyperil.

ThatishowGodtheFatherseethings;heknowshowtocherishandnurturethe

seedsofgoodnesssownintheheartsoftheyoung.Eachyoungperson’sheart

shouldthusbeconsidered“holyground”,abearerofseedsofdivinelife,before

whichwemust“takeoffourshoes”inordertodrawnearandentermoredeeply

intotheMystery.

MANYWAYSOFBEINGYOUNG

68 We might attempt to draw a picture of young people today, but first I

would echo the Synod Fathers, who noted that “the makeup of the Synod

broughtoutthepresenceandcontributionofmanydifferentregionsoftheworld,

and highlighted the beauty of our being a universal Church. In a context of

growing globalization, the Synod Fathers wanted the many differences of

contextsandcultures,evenwithinindividualcountries,tobedulyemphasized.

Theworldsoftoday’s‘youth’aresomanythatinsomecountriesonetendsto

speakof‘youngpeople’intheplural.TheagegroupconsideredbytheSynod

(16-29years)doesnotrepresent ahomogeneouscategory, butis composedof

distinctgroups,eachwithitsownlifeexperience”.

69 From a demographic standpointtoo, some countries have many young

people, whereas others have a very low birth rate. “A further differentiating

factor is historical: there are countries and continents of ancient Christian

tradition,whosecultureisindeliblymarkedbyamemorythatcannotbelightly

dismissed, while other countries and continents are characterized by other

religioustraditions,whereChristianityisaminoritypresence–andattimesa

recentone.Inotherplacesstill,Christiancommunities,andyoungpeoplewho

belongto them,experience persecution”.

Thereis alsoa need todistinguish

youngpeople“withaccesstothegrowingopportunitiesofferedbyglobalization

from those who live on the fringes of society or in rural areas, and find

themselvesexcludedordiscarded”.

70Therearemanymoredifferences,whichitwouldbedifficulttoexamine

here.Inanyevent,Iseenoneedforadetailedanalysisoftoday’syoungpeople,

theirlivesandtheirexperiences.Atthesametime,sinceIdonotwanttoneglect

that reality, I will briefly summarize some contributions received before the

SynodandothersthatIheardinthecourseofourmeetings.

SOMEEXPERIENCESOFYOUNGPEOPLE

71Youth is notsomethingto be analyzed intheabstract. Indeed, “youth”

doesnotexist:thereexistonlyyoungpeople,eachwiththerealityofhisorher

ownlife.Intoday’srapidlychangingworld,manyofthoselivesareexposedto

sufferingandmanipulation.

Livinginaworldincrisis

72TheSynodFathersacknowledgedwithsorrowthat“manyyoungpeople

today live in war zones and experience violence in countless different forms:

kidnapping, extortion, organized crime, human trafficking, slavery and sexual

exploitation,wartime rape,andso forth.Other youngpeople,because oftheir

faith, struggle to find their place in society and endure various kinds of

persecution, even murder. Many young people, whether by force or lack of

alternatives, live by committing crimes and acts of violence: child soldiers,

armed criminal gangs, drug trafficking, terrorism, and so on. This violence

destroys many young lives. Abuse and addiction, together with violence and

wrongdoing,aresomeofthereasonsthatsendyoungpeopletoprison,witha

higherincidenceincertainethnicandsocialgroups”.

73 Many young people are taken in by ideologies, used and exploited as

cannonfodderorastrikeforcetodestroy,terrifyorridiculeothers.Worseyet,

manyofthemendupasindividualists,hostileanddistrustfulofothers;inthis

way, they become an easy target for the brutal and destructive strategies of

politicalgroupsoreconomicpowers.

74“Evenmorenumerousintheworldareyoungpeoplewhosufferformsof

marginalizationandsocialexclusionforreligious,ethnicoreconomicreasons.

Let us not forget the difficult situation of adolescents and young people who

becomepregnant,thescourgeofabortion,thespreadofHIV,variousformsof

addiction(drugs,gambling,pornographyandsoforth),andtheplightofstreet

children without homes, families or economic resources”.

 In the case of

women,thesesituationsaredoublypainfulanddifficult.

75AsaChurch,may we never fail to weepbeforethesetragedies of our

young. May we never become inured to them, for anyone incapable of tears

cannot be a mother. We want to weep so that society itself can be more of a

mother,sothatinplaceofkillingitcanlearntogivebirth,tobecomeapromise

oflife.Weweepwhenwethinkofallthoseyoungpeoplewhohavealreadylost

theirlivesduetopovertyandviolence,andweasksocietytolearntobeacaring

mother.Noneofthispaingoesaway;itstayswithus,becausetheharshreality

can no longer be concealed. The worst thing we can do is adopt that worldly

spirit whose solution is simply to anaesthetize young people with other

messages,withotherdistractions,withtrivialpursuits.

76Perhaps“thoseofuswhohaveareasonablycomfortablelifedon’tknow

howtoweep.Somerealitiesinlifeareonlyseenwitheyescleansedbytears.I

wouldlikeeachofyoutoaskyourselfthisquestion:CanIweep?CanIweep

when I see a child who is starving, on drugs or on the street, homeless,

abandoned,mistreatedorexploitedasaslavebysociety?Orismyweepingonly

theself-centredwhiningofthosewhocrybecausetheywantsomethingelse?”

Trytolearntoweepforallthoseyoungpeoplelessfortunatethanyourselves.

Weepingisalsoanexpressionofmercyandcompassion.Iftearsdonotcome,

asktheLordtogiveyouthegracetoweepforthesufferingsofothers.Onceyou

canweep,thenyouwillbeabletohelpothersfromtheheart.

77Attimes,thehurtfeltbysomeyoungpeopleisheart-rending,apaintoo

deepforwords.TheycanonlytellGodhowmuchtheyaresuffering,andhow

harditisforthemtokeepgoing,sincetheynolongerbelieveinanyone.Yetin

that sorrowful plea, the words of Jesus make themselves heard: “Blessed are

thosewhomourn,fortheyshallbecomforted”(Mt5:4).Someyoungmenand

womenwereabletomoveforwardbecausetheyheardthatdivinepromise.May

allyoungpeoplewhoaresufferingfeeltheclosenessofaChristiancommunity

thatcanreflectthosewordsbyitsactions,itsembraceanditsconcretehelp.

78Itistruethatpeopleinpoweroffersomeassistance,butoftenitcomesat

a high price. In many poor countries, economic aid provided by some richer

countriesorinternationalagenciesisusuallytiedtotheacceptanceofWestern

viewsofsexuality,marriage,lifeorsocialjustice.Thisideologicalcolonization

isespeciallyharmfultotheyoung.Wealsoseehowacertainkindofadvertising

teaches young people to be perpetually dissatisfied and contributes to the

throwawayculture,inwhichyoungpeoplethemselvesendupbeingdiscarded.

79 Our present-day culture exploits the image of the young. Beauty is

associatedwithayouthfulappearance,cosmetictreatmentsthathidethetraces

oftime.Youngbodiesareconstantlyadvertisedasameansofsellingproducts.

Theidealofbeautyisyouth,butweneedtorealizethatthishasverylittletodo

with young people. It only means that adults want to snatch youth for

themselves,notthattheyrespect,loveandcareforyoungpeople.

80Someyoungpeople“findfamilytraditionsoppressiveandtheyfleefrom

themundertheimpulseofaglobalizedculturethatattimesleavesthemwithout

points of reference. In other parts of the world, even more than generational

conflict between young people and adults, there is mutual estrangement.

Sometimesadultsfail,ordonoteventry,tohandonthebasicvaluesoflife,or

they try to imitate young people, thus inverting the relationship between

generations. The relationship between young people and adults thus risks

remaining on the affective level, leaving its educational and cultural aspects

untouched”.

Whatharmthisdoestoyoungpeople,eventhoughsomedonot

noticeit!Youngpeoplethemselveshaveremarkedhowenormouslydifficultthis

makes the transmission of the faith “in some countries without freedom of

speech,whereyoungpeoplearepreventedfromattendingChurch”.

Desires,hurtsandlongings

81 Young people are aware that the body and sexuality have an essential

importancefortheirlives and for their process ofgrowthinidentity. Yetina

world that constantly exalts sexuality, maintaining a healthy relationship with

one’s body and a serene affective life is not easy. For this and other reasons,
sexualmoralityoftentendstobeasourceof“incomprehensionandalienation
from the Church, inasmuch as she is viewed as a place of judgment and
condemnation”. Nonetheless, young people also express “an explicit desire to
discussquestionsconcerning the differencebetween maleandfemaleidentity,
reciprocitybetweenmenandwomen,andhomosexuality”.
34
82In ourtimes,“advances inthe sciencesandin biomedicaltechnologies
havepowerfullyinfluencedperceptionsaboutthebody,leadingtotheideathatit
is open to unlimited modification. The capacity to intervene in DNA, the
possibility of inserting artificial elements into organisms (cyborgs) and the
development of the neurosciences represent a great resource, but at the same
timetheyraiseseriousanthropologicalandethicalquestions”.
35
Theycanmake
usforgetthatlifeisagift,andthatwearecreatureswithinnatelimits,opento
exploitation by those who wield technological power.
36
 “Moreover, in some
youth circles, there is a growing fascination with risk-taking behaviour as a
means of self-exploration, seeking powerful emotions and gaining attention…
Theserealities,towhichyounggenerationsareexposed,areanobstacletotheir
serenegrowthinmaturity”.
37
83Youngpeoplealsoexperiencesetbacks,disappointmentsandprofoundly
painfulmemories. Oftentheyfeel“thehurt ofpastfailures,frustrateddesires,
experiencesofdiscriminationandinjustice,offeelingunlovedandunaccepted”.
Thentoo“therearemoralwounds,theburdenofpasterrors,asenseofguiltfor
having made mistakes”.
38
 Jesus makes his presence felt amid these crosses
borne by young people;heoffers them his friendship,hisconsolationandhis
healingcompanionship.TheChurchwantstobehisinstrumentonthispathto
interiorhealingandpeaceofheart.
84Insomeyoungpeople,wecanseeadesireforGod,albeitstillvagueand
farfromknowledgeoftheGodofrevelation.Inothers,wecanglimpseanideal
of human fraternity, which is no small thing. Many have a genuine desire to
developtheirtalentsinordertooffersomethingtoourworld.Insome,weseea
special artistic sensitivity, or a yearning for harmony with nature. In others,
perhaps,agreatneedtocommunicate.Inmanyof them,weencounteradeep
desiretolivelifedifferently.Inallofthis,wecanfindrealstartingpoints,inner

resourcesopentoawordofincentive,wisdomandencouragement.

85TheSynoddealtinparticularwiththreeareasofutmostimportance.Here

Iwouldliketoquoteitsconclusions,whilerecognizingthattheycallforgreater

analysis and the development of a more adequate and effective ability to

respond.

THEDIGITALENVIRONMENT

86 “The digital environment is characteristic of the contemporary world.

Broad swathes of humanity are immersed in it in an ordinary and continuous

manner. It is no longer merely a question of ‘using’ instruments of

communication, but of living in a highly digitalized culture that has had a

profound impact on ideas of time and space, on our self-understanding, our

understandingofothersandtheworld,andourabilitytocommunicate,learn,be

informed and enter into relationship with others. An approach to reality that

privilegesimagesoverlisteningandreadinghasinfluencedthewaypeoplelearn

andthedevelopmentoftheircriticalsense”.

87The weband socialnetworkshavecreatedanewwaytocommunicate

andbond.Theyare“apublicsquarewheretheyoungspendmuchoftheirtime

and meet one another easily, even though not all have equal access to it,

particularly in some regions of the world. They provide an extraordinary

opportunityfor dialogue,encounter andexchange betweenpersons, aswellas

access to information and knowledge. Moreover, the digital world is one of

socialand politicalengagementandactivecitizenship,anditcanfacilitatethe

circulation of independent information providing effective protection for the

mostvulnerableandpublicizingviolationsoftheirrights.Inmanycountries,the

internet and social networks already represent a firmly established forum for

reaching and involving young people, not least in pastoral initiatives and

activities”.

88Yettounderstandthisphenomenonasawhole,weneedtorealizethat,

likeeveryhumanreality,ithasitsshareoflimitationsanddeficiencies.Itisnot

healthytoconfusecommunicationwithmerevirtualcontact.Indeed,“thedigital

environmentisalsooneofloneliness,manipulation,exploitationandviolence,

eventotheextremecaseofthe‘darkweb’.Digitalmediacanexposepeopleto

theriskofaddiction,isolationandgraduallossofcontactwithconcretereality,

blockingthedevelopmentofauthenticinterpersonalrelationships.Newformsof

violence are spreading through social media, for example cyberbullying. The

internet is also a channel for spreading pornography and the exploitation of

personsforsexualpurposesorthroughgambling”.

89 It should not be forgotten that “there are huge economic interests

operatinginthedigitalworld,capableofexercisingformsofcontrolassubtleas

theyareinvasive,creatingmechanismsforthemanipulationofconsciencesand

of the democratic process. The way many platforms work often ends up

favouring encounter between persons who think alike, shielding them from

debate. These closed circuits facilitate the spread of fake news and false

information,fomentingprejudiceandhate.Theproliferationoffakenewsisthe

expressionofaculturethathaslostitssenseoftruthandbendsthefactstosuit

particular interests. The reputation of individuals is put in jeopardy through

summary trials conducted online. The Church and her pastors are not exempt

fromthisphenomenon”.

90AdocumentpreparedontheeveoftheSynodbythreehundredyoung

peopleworldwidepointed out that “onlinerelationshipscan become inhuman.

Digitalspacesblindustothevulnerabilityofanotherhumanbeingandprevent

us from our own self-reflection. Problems like pornography distort a young

person’sperceptionofhumansexuality.Technologyusedinthiswaycreatesa

delusional parallel reality that ignores human dignity”.

 For many people,

immersioninthevirtualworldhasbroughtaboutakindof“digitalmigration”,

involvingwithdrawalfromtheirfamiliesandtheirculturalandreligiousvalues,

andentranceintoaworldoflonelinessandofself-invention,withtheresultthat

theyfeelrootlessevenwhileremainingphysicallyinoneplace.Thefreshand

exuberant lives of young people who want to affirm their personality today

confrontanewchallenge:thatofinteractingwitharealandvirtualworldthat

theyenteralone,asifsettingfootonanundiscoveredglobalcontinent.Young

people today are the first to have to effect this synthesis between what is

personal,whatisdistinctivetotheirrespectivecultures,andwhatisglobal.This

meansthattheymustfindwaystopassfromvirtualcontacttogoodandhealthy

communication.

MIGRANTSASANEPITOMEOFOURTIME

91 How can we fail to think of all those young people affected by

movements of migration? “Migration, considered globally, is a structural

phenomenon,andnotapassingemergency.Itmayoccurwithinonecountryor

betweendifferentcountries.TheChurch’sconcernisfocusedespeciallyonthose

fleeing from war, violence, political or religious persecution, from natural

disastersincludingthosecausedbyclimatechange,andfromextremepoverty.

Many of them are young. In general, they are seeking opportunities for

themselvesand theirfamilies.Theydreamof abetter futureandtheywantto

createtheconditionsforachievingit”.

Migrants“remindusofabasicaspect

ofourfaith,thatweare‘strangersandexilesontheearth’(Heb11:13)”.

92 Other migrants are “attracted by Western culture, sometimes with

unrealistic expectations that expose them to grave disappointments.

Unscrupulous traffickers, frequently linked to drug cartels or arms cartels,

exploittheweaknessofmigrants,whotoooftenexperienceviolence,trafficking,

psychological and physical abuse and untold sufferings on their journey. Nor

must we overlook the particular vulnerability of migrants who are

unaccompaniedminors,orthesituationofthosecompelledtospendmanyyears

in refugee camps, or of those who remain trapped for a long time in transit

countries,withoutbeingabletopursueacourseofstudiesortousetheirtalents.

In some host countries, migration causes fear and alarm, often fomented and

exploitedforpoliticalends.Thiscanleadtoaxenophobicmentality,aspeople

closeinonthemselves,andthisneedstobeaddresseddecisively”.

93 “Young migrants experience separation from their place of origin, and

oftenaculturalandreligiousuprootingaswell.Fragmentationisalsofeltbythe

communitiestheyleavebehind,whichlosetheirmostvigorousandenterprising

elements,andbyfamilies,especiallywhenoneorbothoftheparentsmigrates,

leavingthechildreninthecountryoforigin.TheChurchhasanimportantrole

as a point of reference for the young members of these divided families.

However, the stories of migrants are also stories of encounter between

individuals and between cultures. Forthe communities and societies to which

theycome,migrantsbringanopportunityforenrichmentandtheintegralhuman

development of all. Initiatives of welcome involving the Church have an

importantrolefromthisperspective;theycanbringnewlifetothecommunities

capableofundertakingthem”.

94“Given thevariedbackgrounds ofthe SynodFathers,the discussionof

migrants benefited from a great variety of approaches, particularly from

countries of departure and countries of arrival. Grave concern was also

expressed by Churches whose members feel forced to escape war and

persecutionandbyothers who see in theseforcedmigrationsa threat to their

survival.TheveryfactthattheChurchcanembraceallthesevariedperspectives

allows her to play a prophetic role in society with regard to the issue of

migration”.

Inaspecialway,Iurgeyoungpeoplenottoplayintothehandsof

those who would set them against other young people, newly arrived in their

countries,andwhowouldencouragethemtoviewthelatterasathreat,andnot

possessedofthesameinalienabledignityaseveryotherhumanbeing.

ENDINGEVERYFORMOFABUSE

95 Recently, urgent appeals have beenmade for us to hear the cry of the

victimsofdifferentkindsofabuseperpetratedbysomebishops,priests,religious

andlaypersons.Thesesinscausetheirvictims“sufferingsthatcanlastalifetime

andthatnorepentancecanremedy.Thisphenomenoniswidespreadinsociety

anditalsoaffectstheChurchandrepresentsaseriousobstacletohermission”.

96 It is true that “the scourge of the sexual abuse of minors is, and

historicallyhasbeen,a widespread phenomenon in allculturesand societies”,

especially within families and in various institutions; its extent has become

knownprimarily“thankstochangesinpublicopinion”.Evenso,thisproblem,

whileitisuniversaland“gravelyaffectsoursocietiesasawhole…isinnoway

less monstrous when it takes place within the Church”. Indeed, “in people’s

justifiedanger,theChurchseesthereflectionofthewrathofGod,betrayedand
insulted”.
50
97 “The Synod reaffirms the firm commitment made to adopting rigorous
preventative measures intended to avoid the recurrence [of these crimes],
startingwiththeselectionandformationofthosetowhomtasksofresponsibility
andeducationwillbeentrusted”.
51
Atthesametime,thedeterminationtoapply
the“actionsandsanctionsthataresonecessary”mustbereiterated.
52
And all
thiswiththegraceofChrist.Therecanbenoturningback.
98 “Abuse exists in various forms: the abuse of power, the abuse of
conscience,sexualandfinancialabuse.Clearly,thewaysofexercisingauthority
thatmakeallthispossiblehavetobeeradicated,andtheirresponsibilityandlack
of transparency with which so many cases have been handled have to be
challenged.Thedesiretodominate,lackofdialogueandtransparency,formsof
double life, spiritual emptiness, as well as psychological weaknesses, are the
terrainonwhichcorruptionthrives”.
53
Clericalism isa constanttemptation on
thepartofpriests who see“theministrythey have receivedasa power to be
exercised,ratherthanafreeandgenerousservicetobeoffered.Itmakesusthink
thatwebelongtoagroupthathasalltheanswersandnolongerneedstolisten
orhas anythingtolearn”.
54
Doubtless, suchclericalismcanmake consecrated
personsloserespectforthesacredandinalienableworthofeachpersonandof
hisorherfreedom.
99 Together with the Synod Fathers, I wish to thank, with gratitude and
affection,“thosewhohadthecouragetoreporttheeviltheyexperienced:they
help the Church to acknowledge what happened and the need to respond
decisively”.
55
Particulargratitudeisalsoduefor“thegenerouscommitmentof
countless lay persons, priests, consecrated men and women, and bishops who
daily devote themselves with integrity and dedication to the service of the
young.Theireffortsarelikeagreatforestthatquietlygrows.Manyoftheyoung
people present at the Synod also expressed gratitude to those who have
accompaniedthemandtheyemphasizedthegreatneedforadultswhocanserve
aspointsofreference”.
56
100 Thank God, those who committed these horrible crimes are not the

majorityofpriests,whocarryouttheirministrywithfidelityandgenerosity.I

askyoungpeopletoletthemselvesbeinspiredbythisvastmajority.Andifyou

seeapriestatrisk,becausehehaslostthejoyofhisministry,orseeksaffective

compensation, or is taking the wrong path, remind him ofhiscommitmentto

God and his people, remind him of the Gospel and urge him to hold to his

course. In this way, you will contribute greatly to something fundamental:

preventingtheseatrocitiesfrombeingrepeated.Thisdarkcloudalsochallenges

allyoungpeoplewholoveJesusChristandhisChurch:theycanbeasourceof

greathealingiftheyemploytheirgreatcapacitytobringaboutrenewal,tourge

anddemandconsistentwitness,tokeepdreamingandcomingupwithnewideas.

101NoristhistheonlysinofthemembersoftheChurch;herlonghistoryis

notwithoutitsshadows.Oursinsarebeforetheeyesofeveryone;theyappear

alltooclearly in the linesonthe age-old face oftheChurch, our Mother and

Teacher.Fortwothousandyearsshehasadvancedonherpilgrimway,sharing

“thejoysandthehopes,thegriefandanguish”

ofallhumanity.Shehasmade

thisjourneyassheis,withoutcosmeticsurgeryofanykind.Sheisnotafraidto

reveal the sins of her members, which some try at times to hide, before the

burninglightofthewordoftheGospel,whichcleansesandpurifies.Nordoes

she stop reciting each day, in shame: “Have mercy on me, Lord, in your

kindness…mysinisalwaysbeforeme”(Ps51:3.5).Still,letusneverforgetthat

wemustnotabandonourMotherwhensheiswounded,butstandbesideher,so

thatshecansummonupallherstrengthandallherabilitytobegineveranew.

102Inthemidstofthistragedy,whichrightlypainsus,“theLordJesus,who

neverabandonshisChurch,offersherthestrengthandthemeanstosetoutona

newpath”.

 Thisdarkmoment,“not without the valuable help of theyoung,

can truly be an opportunity for a reform of epoch-making significance”,

openingustoanewPentecostandinauguratinganewstageofpurificationand

change capable of renewing the Church’s youth. Young people will be all the

morehelpfuliftheyfeelfullyapartofthe“holyandpatient,faithfulPeopleof

God,borneupandenlivenedbytheHolySpirit”,for“itwillbepreciselythis

holyPeopleofGodtoliberateusfromtheplagueofclericalism,whichisthe

fertilegroundforallthesedisgraces”.

AWAYOUT

103Inthischapter,Ihavetakentimetolookattherealityofyoungpeople

intoday’sworld.Someotheraspectswillbedealtwithinthefollowingchapters.

As I have said, I do not claim to be exhaustive in this analysis. I encourage

communitiestoexamine,respectfullyandseriously,thesituationoftheiryoung

people,inorder tofindthe most fittingwaysof providingthemwith pastoral

care. At the same time, I do not want to end this chapter without addressing

somewordstoeachofyou.

104Iremindyouofthegoodnewswereceivedasagiftonthemorningof

theresurrection:thatinallthedarkorpainfulsituationsthatwementioned,there

isawayout.Forexample,itistruethatthedigitalworldcanexposeyoutothe

riskofself-absorption,isolationandemptypleasure.Butdon’tforgetthatthere

areyoungpeopleeventherewhoshowcreativityandevengenius.Thatwasthe

casewiththeVenerableCarloAcutis.

105 Carlo was well aware that the whole apparatus of communications,

advertisingandsocialnetworkingcanbeusedtolullus,tomakeusaddictedto

consumerismandbuyingthelatestthingonthemarket,obsessedwithourfree

time,caughtupinnegativity.Yetheknewhowtousethenewcommunications

technologytotransmittheGospel,tocommunicatevaluesandbeauty.

106Carlodidn’tfallintothetrap.Hesawthatmanyyoungpeople,wanting

tobedifferent,reallyendupbeinglikeeveryoneelse,runningafterwhateverthe

powerfulsetbeforethemwiththemechanismsofconsumerismanddistraction.

InthiswaytheydonotbringforththegiftstheLordhasgiventhem;theydonot

offertheworldthoseuniquepersonaltalentsthatGodhasgiventoeachofthem.

Asaresult,Carlosaid,“everyoneisbornasanoriginal,butmanypeopleendup

dyingasphotocopies”.Don’tletthathappentoyou!

107Don’tletthemrobyouofhopeandjoy,ordrugyouintobecominga

slavetotheirinterests.Daretobemore,becausewhoyouareismoreimportant

than any possession. What good are possessions or appearances? You can

becomewhatGodyourCreatorknowsyouare,ifonlyyourealizethatyouare

calledtosomethinggreater.AskthehelpoftheHolySpiritandconfidentlyaim

forthegreatgoalofholiness.Inthisway,youwillnotbeaphotocopy.Youwill

befullyyourself.

108Ifthisistohappen,youneedtorealizeonebasictruth:beingyoungis

notonlyaboutpursuingfleetingpleasuresandsuperficialachievements.Ifthe

years of your youth aretoserve their purpose in life, they mustbe a time of

generouscommitment,whole-hearteddedication,andsacrificesthataredifficult

butultimatelyfruitful.Asagreatpoetputit:

“IftoregainwhatIregained,

IfirsthadtolosewhatIlost;

IftoachievewhatIachieved,

IhadtoendurewhatIendured;

Iftobeinlovenow

FirstIhadtobehurt,

IconsiderwhatIsufferedwellsuffered,

IconsiderwhatIweptforaswellweptfor.

BecauseintheendIcametosee

Thatwedonotreallyenjoywhatweenjoyed

Unlesswehavesufferedforit.

ForintheendIrealized

Thattheblossomsonthetree

Drawlifefromwhatliesburiedbeneath”.

109 If you are young in years, but feel weak, weary or disillusioned, ask

Jesustorenewyou.Withhim,hopeneverfails.Youcandothesameifyoufeel

overwhelmed by vices, bad habits, selfishness or unhealthy pastimes. Jesus,

brimmingwithlife,wantstohelpyoumakeyouryouthworthwhile.Inthisway,

youwillnotdeprivetheworldofthecontributionthatyoualonecanmake,inall

youruniquenessandoriginality.

110Yetletmealsoremindyouthat,“whenweliveapartfromothers,itis

verydifficulttofightagainstconcupiscence,thesnaresandtemptationsofthe

devil, and the selfishness of the world. Bombarded as we are by so many

enticements,wecangrowtooisolated,loseoursenseofrealityandinnerclarity,

and easily succumb”.

 This is especially the case with young people, for

whenever you are united, you have marvellous strength. Whenever you are

enthusedaboutlifeincommon,youarecapableofgreatsacrificesforothersand

forthecommunity.Isolation,ontheotherhand,sapsourstrengthandexposesus

totheworstevilsofourtime.

BacktoContents

CHAPTERFOUR

Agreatmessageforallyoungpeople

111Puttingallelseaside,Inowwishtospeaktoyoungpeopleaboutwhatis

essential, the one thing we should never keep quiet about. It is a message

containingthreegreattruthsthatallofusneedconstantlytokeephearing.

AGODWHOISLOVE

112TheveryfirsttruthIwouldtelleachofyouisthis:“Godlovesyou”.It

makesnodifferencewhetheryouhavealreadyhearditornot.Iwanttoremind

youofit.Godlovesyou.Neverdoubtthis,whatevermayhappentoyouinlife.

Ateverymoment,youareinfinitelyloved.

113 Perhaps your experience of fatherhood has not been the best. Your

earthly father may havebeen distant or absent, or harsh and domineering. Or

maybehewasjustnotthefatheryouneeded.Idon’tknow.ButwhatIcantell

you,withabsolutecertainty,isthatyoucanfindsecurityintheembraceofyour

heavenlyFather,oftheGodwhofirstgaveyoulifeandcontinuestogiveitto

youateverymoment.Hewillbeyourfirmsupport,butyouwillalsorealizethat

hefullyrespectsyourfreedom.

114InGod’sword,wefindmanyexpressionsofhislove.Itisasifhetried

tofinddifferentwaysofshowingthatlove,sothat,withoneofthematleast,he

could touch your heart. For example, there are times when God speaks of

himselfasanaffectionatefatherwhoplayswithhischildren:“Iledthemwith

cordsofcompassion,withbandsoflove.Iwastothemlikethosewholiftinfants

totheircheeks”(Hos11:4).

Atothertimes,hespeaksofhimselfasfilledwiththeloveofamotherwhose

visceralloveforherchildrenmakesitimpossibleforhertoneglectorabandon

them:“Canawomanforgether nursingchild,orshowno compassionforthe

childofherwomb?Eventhesemayforget,yetIwillnotforgetyou”(Is49:15).

Heevencompareshimselftoaloverwhogoessofarastowritehisbeloved

on the palm of his hands, to keep her face always before him: “See, I have

inscribedyouonthepalmsofmyhands!”(Is49:6).

Atothertimes,heemphasizesthestrengthandsteadfastnessofhisinvincible

love:“Forthemountainsmaydepart,andthehillsbeshaken,butmysteadfast

loveshallnotdepartfromyou,andmycovenantofpeaceshallnotbeshaken”

(Is54:10).

Or he tells us that we have been awaited from eternity, for it was not by

chancethatwecameintothisworld:“Ihavelovedyouwithaneverlastinglove;

thereforeIhavecontinuedmyfaithfulnesstoyou”(Jer31:3).

Orheletsusknowthatheseesinusabeautythatnooneelsecansee:“For

youarepreciousinmysight,andhonoured,andIloveyou”(Is43:4).

Orhemakesusrealizethathisloveisnotcheerless,butpurejoy,wellingup

wheneverweallowourselvestobeloved byhim:“TheLord, your God,is in

yourmidst,awarriorwhogivesvictory.Hewillrejoiceoveryouwithgladness,

hewillrenewyouin hislove;hewill exultoveryouwith loudsinging”(Zeph

3:17).

115Forhim,youhaveworth;youarenotinsignificant.Youareimportantto

him,foryouaretheworkofhishands.Thatiswhyheisconcernedaboutyou

andlookstoyouwithaffection.“TrustthememoryofGod:hismemoryisnota

‘harddisk’that‘saves’and‘archives’allourdata.Hismemoryisaheartfilled

withtendercompassion,onethatfindsjoyin‘deleting’fromuseverytraceof

evil”.

Hedoesnotkeeptrackofyourfailingsandhealwayshelpsyoulearn

somethingevenfromyourmistakes.Becausehelovesyou.Trytokeepstillfora

momentandletyourselffeelhislove.Trytosilenceallthenoisewithin,andrest

forasecondinhislovingembrace.

116Hisis“alovethatdoesnotoverwhelmoroppress,castasideorreduce

tosilence,humiliateordomineer.ItistheloveoftheLord,adaily,discreetand

respectfullove;alovethatisfreeandfreeing,alovethathealsandraisesup.

TheloveoftheLordhastodomorewithraisingupthanknockingdown,with

reconcilingthanforbidding,withofferingnewchangesthancondemning,with

thefuturethanthepast”.

117 When he asks something of you, or simply makes you face life’s

challenges,heishopingthatyouwillmakeroomforhimtopushyou,tohelp

you grow. He doesnotget upset if you share your questionswithhim. He is

concernedwhenyoudon’ttalktohim,whenyouarenotopentodialoguewith

him.TheBibletellsusthatJacobfoughtwithGod(cf.Gen32:25-31),butthat

didnotkeephimfrom perseveringin hisjourney. TheLordhimselfurgesus:

“Come,letusargueitout”(Is1:18).Hisloveissoreal,sotrue,soconcrete,that

it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue. Seek the

closenessofourheavenlyFatherinthelovingfaceofhiscourageouswitnesses

onearth!

CHRISTSAVESYOU

118 The second great truth is that Christ, out of love, sacrificed himself

completelyinordertosaveyou.Hisoutstretchedarmsonthecrossarethemost

tellingsignthatheisafriendwhoiswillingtostopatnothing:“Havingloved

hisownwhowereintheworld,helovedthemtotheend”(Jn13:1).

SaintPaulsaidthathislifewasoneofcompletetrustinthatself-sacrificing

love:“InowlivebyfaithintheSonofGodwholovedme,andgavehimselffor

me”(Gal2:20).

119 The same Christ who, by his cross, saved us from our sins, today

continuestosaveandredeemusbythepowerofhistotalself-surrender.Lookto

his cross, cling to him, let him save you, for “those who accept his offer of

salvationaresetfreefromsin,sorrow,inneremptinessandloneliness”.

Andif

yousinandstrayfarfromhim,hewillcometoliftyouupbythepowerofhis

cross. Never forget that “he forgives us seventy times seven. Time and time

again,hebearsusonhisshoulders.Noonecanstripusofthedignitybestowed

upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness that never

disappointsbutisalwayscapableofrestoringourjoy,hemakesitpossibleforus

toliftupourheadsandtostartanew”.

120“WearesavedbyJesusbecausehelovesusandcannotgoagainsthis

nature. We can do any number of things against him, yet he loves us and he

savesus.Foronlywhatislovedcanbesaved.Onlywhatisembracedcanbe

transformed.TheLord’sloveisgreaterthanallourproblems,frailtiesandflaws.

Yetitispreciselythroughourproblems,frailtiesandflawsthathewantstowrite

this love story. He embraced the prodigal son, he embraced Peter after his

denials,andhealways,always,alwaysembracesusaftereveryfall,helpingus

toriseandgetbackonourfeet.Becausetheworstfall,andpayattentiontothis,

theworstfall,theonethatcanruinourlives,iswhenwestaydownanddonot

allowourselvestobehelpedup”.

121Hisforgivenessandsalvationarenotsomethingwecanbuy,orthatwe

have to acquire by our own works or efforts. He forgives us and sets us free

withoutcost.Hisself-sacrificeonthecrossissogreatthatwecanneverrepayit,

but only receive it with immense gratitude and with the joy of being more

greatlylovedthanwecouldeverimagine:“Helovedusfirst”(1Jn4:19).

122Youngpeople,belovedoftheLord,howvaluablemustyoubeifyou

were redeemedbythepreciousbloodofChrist! Dear young people, “you are

priceless!Youarenotupforsale!Please,donotletyourselvesbebought.Do

not let yourselves beseduced. Do not let yourselvesbe enslaved by forms of

ideologicalcolonizationthatputideasinyourheads,withtheresultthatyouend

upbecomingslaves,addicts,failuresinlife.Youarepriceless.Youmustrepeat

thisalways:Iamnotupforsale;Idonothaveaprice.Iamfree!Fallinlove

withthisfreedom,whichiswhatJesusoffers”.

123KeepyoureyesfixedontheoutstretchedarmsofChristcrucified,let

yourselfbesavedoverandoveragain.Andwhenyougotoconfessyoursins,

believefirmlyinhismercywhichfreesyouofyourguilt.Contemplatehisblood

pouredoutwithsuchgreatlove,andletyourselfbecleansedbyit.Inthisway,

youcanbereborneveranew.

HEISALIVE!

124 Finally, there is a third truth, inseparable from the second: Christ is

alive!Weneedtokeepremindingourselvesofthis,becausewecanriskseeing

Jesus Christ simply as a fine model from the distant past, as a memory, as

someonewhosavedustwothousandyearsago.Butthatwouldbeofnouseto

us:itwouldleaveusunchanged,itwouldnotsetusfree.Theonewhofillsus

withhisgrace,theonewholiberatesus,transformsus,healsandconsolesusis

someone fully alive. He is the Christ, risen from the dead, filled with

supernaturallifeandenergy,androbedinboundlesslight.ThatiswhySaintPaul

couldsay:“IfChristhasnotbeenraised,yourfaithisfutile”(1Cor15:7).

125Alive,hecanbepresentinyourlifeateverymoment,tofillitwithlight

and to take away all sorrow and solitude. Even if all others depart, he will

remain, as he promised: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt

28:20).Hefillsyourlifewithhisunseenpresence;whereveryougo,hewillbe

waitingthereforyou.Becausehedidnotonlycomeinthepast,buthecomesto

youtodayandeveryday,invitingyoutosetouttowardsevernewhorizons.

126SeeJesusashappy,overflowingwithjoy.Rejoicewithhimaswitha

friend who has triumphed. They killed him, the holy one, the just one, the

innocentone,buthetriumphedintheend.Evildoesnothavethelastword.Nor

willithavethelastwordinyourlife,foryouhaveafriendwholovesyouand

wantstotriumphinyou.YourSaviourlives.

127 Because he lives, there can be no doubt that goodness will have the

upperhandinyourlifeandthatallourstruggleswillproveworthwhile.Ifthisis

thecase, wecan stopcomplainingandlooktothefuture,forwithhimthis is

alwayspossible.Thatisthecertaintywehave.Jesusiseternallyalive.Ifwehold

fast to him, we will havelife,and be protected from the threats of deathand

violencethatmayassailusinlife.

128 Every other solution will prove inadequate and temporary. It may be

helpfulforatime,butonceagainwewillfindourselvesexposedandabandoned

beforethestormsoflife.WithJesus,ontheotherhand,ourheartsexperiencea

securitythatisfirmlyrootedandenduring.SaintPaulsaysthathewishestobe

onewithChristinorder“toknowhimandthepowerofhisresurrection”(Phil

3:10).Thatpowerwillconstantlyberevealedinyourlivestoo,forhecameto

giveyoulife,“andlifeinabundance”(Jn10:10).

129Ifinyourheartyoucanlearntoappreciatethebeautyofthismessage,if

youarewillingtoencountertheLord,ifyouarewillingtolethimloveyouand

saveyou,ifyoucanmakefriendswithhimandstarttotalktohim,theliving

Christ,abouttherealitiesofyourlife,thenyouwillhaveaprofoundexperience

capableof sustainingyourentireChristianlife. You willalsobe ableto share

thatexperiencewithotheryoungpeople.For“beingaChristianisnottheresult

ofanethicalchoiceoraloftyidea,buttheencounterwithanevent,aperson,

whichgiveslifeanewhorizonandadecisivedirection”.

THESPIRITGIVESLIFE

130Inthesethreetruths–Godlovesyou;ChristisyourSaviour;heisalive

–weseeGodtheFatherandJesus.WherevertheFatherandtheSonare,there

too is the Holy Spirit. He is theone who quietly opens hearts to receive that

message.Hekeepsaliveourhopeofsalvation,andhewillhelpyougrowinjoy

ifyouareopentohisworking.TheHolySpiritfillstheheartoftherisenChrist

andthenflowsoverintoyourlives.WhenyoureceivetheSpirit,hedrawsyou

evermoredeeplyintotheheartofChrist,sothatyoucangrowinhislove,his

lifeandhispower.

131 Ask the Holy Spirit each day to help you experience anew the great

message.Whynot?Youhavenothingtolose,andhecanchangeyourlife,fillit

withlightandleaditalongabetterpath.Hetakesnothingawayfromyou,but

insteadhelpsyoutofindallthatyouneed,andinthebestpossibleway.Doyou

needlove?Youwillnotfinditindissipation,usingotherpeople,ortryingtobe

possessive or domineering. You will find it in a way that will make you

genuinelyhappy.Areyouseekingpowerfulemotions?Youwillnotexperience

them by accumulating material objects, spending money, chasing desperately

afterthethingsofthisworld.Theywillcome,andinamuchmorebeautifuland

meaningfulway,ifyouletyourselfbepromptedbytheHolySpirit.

132 Are you looking for passion? As that beautiful poem says: “Fall in

love!” (or “let yourself be loved!”), because “nothing is more practical than

findingGod,thanfallinginloveinaquiteabsolute,finalway.Whatyouarein

love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide

whatwillgetyououtofbedinthemorning,whatyoudowithyourevenings,

howyou spendyourweekends,whatyouread,whomyouknow, whatbreaks

your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in

love, and it will decide everything”.

 This love for God, that can approach

everythinginlifewithpassion,ispossiblethankstotheSpirit,for“God’slove

hasbeenpouredintoourheartsthroughtheHolySpiritwhohasbeengivento

us”(Rom5:5).

133Heisthesourceofyouthatitsbest.ForthosewhotrustintheLordare

“likeatreeplantedbywatersendingoutitsrootsbythestream;itshallnotfear

whenheatcomes,anditsleavesshallstaygreen”(Jer17:8).While“youthsshall

faintandbeweary”(Is40:30),thosewhowaitfortheLord“shallrenewtheir

strength,theyshallmountupwithwingslikeeagles,theyshallrunandnotbe

weary,theyshallwalkandnotfaint”(Is40:31).

BacktoContents

CHAPTERFIVE

Pathsofyouth

134Whatdoesitmean to live the yearsofouryouthin the transforming

lightoftheGospel?Weneedtoraisethisquestion,becauseyouth,morethana

sourceofpride,isagiftofGod:“Tobeyoungisagrace,ablessing”.

Itisa

giftthatwecansquandermeaninglessly,orreceivewithgratitudeandlivetothe

full.

135Godisthegiverofyouthandheisatworkinthelifeofeachyoung

person.YouthisablessedtimefortheyoungandagracefortheChurchandfor

the world. It is joy, a song of hope and a blessing. Making the most of our

youthfulyearsentailsseeingthisseasonoflifeasworthwhileinitself,andnot

simplyasabriefpreludetoadulthood.

ATIMEOFDREAMSANDDECISIONS

136InJesus’day,thepassagefromchildhoodwasasignificantstepinlife,

onejoyfullycelebrated. When Jesus restoredlifeto a man’s daughter,hefirst

called her a “child” (Mk 5:39), but then addressed her as a “young girl” (Mk

5:41).Bysayingtoher:“Younggirl,getup(talithacum)”,hemadehermore

responsibleforherlife,openingbeforeherthedoortoyouth.

137“Youth,asaphaseinthedevelopmentofthepersonality,ismarkedby

dreamswhichgathermomentum,byrelationshipswhichacquiremoreandmore

consistency and balance, by trials and experiments, and by choices which

graduallybuildalifeproject.Atthisstageinlife,theyoungarecalledtomove

forwardwithoutcuttingthemselvesofffromtheirroots,tobuildautonomybut

notinsolitude”.
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138TheloveofGodandourrelationshipwiththelivingChristdonothold
usbackfromdreaming;theydonotrequireustonarrowourhorizons.Onthe
contrary,thatloveelevatesus,encouragesusandinspiresustoabetterandmore
beautifullife.Muchofthelongingpresentintheheartsofyoungpeoplecanbe
summed up in the word “restlessness”. As Saint Paul VI said, “In the very
discontentthatyouoftenfeel…arayoflightispresent”.
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Restlessdiscontent,
combinedwithexhilarationbeforetheopeningupofnewhorizons,generatesa
boldnessthatleadsyoutostandupandtakeresponsibilityforamission.This
healthy restlessness typical of youth continues to dwell in every heart that
remainsyoung,openandgenerous.Trueinnerpeacecoexistswiththatprofound
discontent. As Saint Augustine said:“You havecreated us for yourself, Lord,
andourheartsarerestlessuntiltheyfindtheirrestinyou”.
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139 Sometime ago, a friend asked me what I see in a young person. My
responsewasthat“Iseesomeonewhoissearchingforhisorherownpath,who
wantstoflyontheirtwofeet,whofacestheworldandlooksatthehorizonwith
eyesfullofthefuture,fullofhopeaswellasillusions.Ayoungpersonstandson
twofeetasadultsdo,butunlikeadults,whosefeetareparallel,healwayshas
onefootforward,readytosetout,tospringahead.Alwaysracingonward.To
talkaboutyoungpeopleistotalkaboutpromiseand totalkaboutjoy.Young
peoplehavesomuchstrength;theyareabletolookaheadwithhope.Ayoung
personisapromiseoflifethatimpliesacertaindegreeoftenacity.Heisfoolish
enoughtodeludehimself,andresilientenoughtorecoverfromthatdelusion”.
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140Someyoungpeoplemighthatethisstageoflife,becausetheywantto
continue being children or indefinitely prolong their adolescence and put off
having to make decisions. “Fear of the definitive thus generates a kind of
paralysisofdecision-making.Yetyouthcannotremainonhold.Itistheageof
choices and herein lies its fascination and its greatest responsibility. Young
peoplemakedecisions in professional,socialand politicalfields,and in other
more radical ways that determine theshape of their lives”.
76
 They also make
decisionsaboutlove,choosingaspouseandstartingafamily.Wewilllookat
these issues more closely in the final chapters, when dealing with individual
vocationsandtheirdiscernment.

141Butopposedtothesehopesanddreamsthatgeneratedecisions,thereis

alwaysthetemptationtocomplainorgiveup.“Wecanleavethattothosewho

worshipthe‘goddessoflament’…Sheisafalsegoddess:shemakesyoutake

thewrongroad.Wheneverythingseemstobestandingstillandstagnant,when

ourpersonalissuestroubleus,andsocialproblemsdonotmeetwiththeright

responses,itdoesnogoodtogiveup.Jesusistheway:welcomehimintoyour

‘boat’andputoutintothedeep!HeistheLord!Hechangesthewayweseelife.

FaithinJesusleadstogreaterhope,toacertaintybasednotonourqualitiesand

skills,butonthewordofGod,ontheinvitationthatcomesfromhim.Without

making too many human calculations, and without worrying about things that

challengeyoursecurity,putoutintothedeep.Gooutofyourselves”.

142 Keep following your hopes and dreams. But be careful about one

temptationthatcanholdusback.Itisanxiety.Anxietycanworkagainstusby

makingusgiveupwheneverwedonotseeinstantresults.Ourbestdreamsare

onlyattainedthroughhope,patienceandcommitment,andnotinhaste.Atthe

sametime,weshouldnotbehesitant,afraidtotakechancesormakemistakes.

Avoidtheparalysisofthelivingdead,whohavenolifebecausetheyareafraid

totakerisks,tomakemistakesortopersevereintheircommitments.Evenifyou

makemistakes,youcanalwaysgetupandstartover,fornoonehastherightto

robyouofhope.

143Dearyoungpeople,makethemostoftheseyearsofyouryouth.Don’t

observelifefromabalcony.Don’tconfusehappinesswithanarmchair,orlive

yourlifebehindascreen.Whateveryoudo,donotbecomethesorrysightofan

abandoned vehicle! Don’t be parked cars, but dream freely and make good

decisions.Takerisks,evenifitmeansmakingmistakes.Don’tgothroughlife

anaesthetizedorapproachtheworldliketourists.Makearuckus!Castoutthe

fearsthatparalyzeyou,sothatyoudon’tbecomeyoungmummies.Live!Give

yourselvesovertothebestoflife!Openthedoorofthecage,gooutandfly!

Please,don’ttakeearlyretirement.

ATHIRSTFORLIFEANDEXPERIENCE

144Whiledrawntowardsthefutureanditspromise,youngpeoplealsohave

a powerful desire toexperience the present moment, tomake the most of the

opportunitieslifeoffers.Ourworldisfilledwithbeauty!Howcanwelookdown

uponGod’smanygifts?

145Contrarytowhatmanypeoplethink,theLord doesnot wantto stifle

thesedesiresforafulfillinglife.WedowelltorememberthewordsofanOld

Testament sage: “My child, treat yourself well, according to your means, and

presentyourofferingstotheLord;donotdepriveyourselfofaday’senjoyment,

donotletyourshareofdesiredgoodpassby”(Sir14:11.14).ThetrueGod,who

lovesyou,wantsyoutobehappy.Forthisreason,theBiblealsocontainsthis

pieceofadvicetoyoungpeople:“Rejoice,youngman,whileyouareyoung,and

letyourheartcheeryouinthedaysofyouryouth…banishanxietyfromyour

mind” (Ec 11:9-10). For God “richly provides us with everything for our

enjoyment”(1Tim6:17).

146 How could God take pleasure in someone incapable of enjoying his

small everyday blessings, someone blind to the simple pleasures we find all

aroundus?“Nooneisworsethanonewhoisgrudgingtohimself”(Sir14:6).

Farfromobsessivelyseekingnewpleasures,whichwouldkeepusfrommaking

the most of the present moment, we are asked to open our eyes and take a

momenttoexperiencefullyandwithgratitudeeveryoneoflife’slittlegifts.

147Clearly,God’swordasksyoutoenjoythepresent,notsimplytoprepare

forthefuture:“Donotworryabouttomorrow,fortomorrowwillbringworries

ofitsown;today’s troubleis enoughfortoday” (Mt6:34).Butthis is notthe

sameasembarkingirresponsiblyonalifeofdissipationthatcanonlyleaveus

emptyandperpetually dissatisfied.Rather,itis aboutlivingthe presenttothe

full,spendingourenergiesongoodthings,cultivatingfraternity,followingJesus

andmakingthemostoflife’slittlejoysasgiftsofGod’slove.

148 Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân, when imprisoned in a

concentrationcamp,refusedtodonothingbutawaitthedaywhenhewouldbe

setfree.Hechose“tolivethepresentmoment,fillingittothebrimwithlove”.

Hedecided:“Iwillseizetheoccasionsthatpresentthemselveseveryday;Iwill

accomplishordinaryactionsinanextraordinaryway”.

Asyouworktoachieve

yourdreams,makethemostofeachdayanddoyourbesttoleteachmoment

brimwithlove.Thisyouthfuldaymaywellbeyourlast,andsoitisworththe

efforttoliveitasenthusiasticallyandfullyaspossible.

149 This can also be applied to times of difficulty, that have to be fully

experiencedifwearetolearnthemessagetheycanteachus.Inthewordsofthe

SwissBishops:“Godistherewherewethoughthehadabandonedusandthere

was no further hope of salvation. It is a paradox, but for many Christians,

suffering and darkness have become… places of encounter with God”.

 The

desiretolivefullyandexperiencenewthingsisalsofeltbymanyyoungpeople

withphysical,mentalandsensorydisabilities.Eventhoughtheymaynotalways

beabletohavethesameexperiencesasothers,theypossessamazingresources

andabilitiesthatareoftenfaraboveaverage.TheLordJesusgrantsthemother

gifts,whichthe community is calledtorecognize and appreciate,sothatthey

candiscoverhisplanofloveforeachofthem.

INFRIENDSHIPWITHCHRIST

150 No matter how much you live the experience of these years of your

youth, you will never know their deepest and fullest meaning unless you

encountereachdayyourbestfriend,thefriendwhoisJesus.

151 Friendship is one of life’s gifts and a grace from God. Through our

friends,theLordrefinesusandleadsustomaturity.Faithfulfriends,whostand

at our side in times of difficulty, are also a reflection of the Lord’s love, his

gentleandconsolingpresenceinourlives.Theexperienceoffriendshipteaches

ustobeopen,understandingandcaringtowardsothers,tocomeoutofourown

comfortableisolationandtoshareourliveswithothers.Forthisreason,“thereis

nothingsopreciousasafaithfulfriend”(Sir6:15).

152 Friendship is no fleeting or temporary relationship, but one that is

stable,firmandfaithful,andmatureswiththepassageoftime.Arelationshipof

affectionthatbringsustogetherandagenerouslovethatmakesusseekthegood

ofourfriend.Friendsmaybequitedifferentfromoneanother,buttheyalways

havethingsincommonthatdrawthemcloserinmutualopennessandtrust.

153FriendshipissoimportantthatJesuscallshimselfafriend:“Idonotcall

you servants any longer, but I call you friends” (Jn 15:15). Bythegift of his

grace,weareelevatedinsuchawaythatwetrulybecomehisfriends.Withthe

samelovethatChristpoursoutonus,wecanlovehiminturnandsharehislove

withothers,inthehopethattheytoowilltaketheirplaceinthecommunityof

friendshipheestablished.Andevenasheenjoysthecompleteblissofthelifeof

the resurrection, we, for our part, can work generously to help him build his

kingdominthisworld,bybringinghismessage,hislight,andaboveallhislove,

toothers(cf.Jn15:16).ThedisciplesheardJesuscallingthemtobehisfriends.

It was an invitation that did not pressure them, but gently appealed to their

freedom.“Comeandsee”,Jesustoldthem;so“theycameandsawwherehewas

staying,andtheyremainedwithhimthatday”(Jn1:39).Afterthatunexpected

andmovingencounter,theylefteverythingandfollowedhim.

154 Friendship with Jesus cannot be broken. He never leaves us, even

thoughattimes it appearsthathe keeps silent.Whenwe need him,hemakes

himselfknowntous(cf.Jer29:14);heremainsatoursidewhereverwego(cf.

Jos1:9).Heneverbreakshiscovenant.Hesimplyasksthatwenotabandonhim:

“Abideinme”(Jn15:4).Butevenifwestrayfromhim,“heremainsfaithful,for

hecannotdenyhimself”(2Tim2:13).

155Withafriend,wecanspeakandshareourdeepestsecrets.WithJesus

too, we can always have a conversation. Prayer is both a challenge and an

adventure.Andwhatanadventureitis!GraduallyJesusmakesusappreciatehis

grandeur and draw nearer to him. Prayer enables us to share with him every

aspectofourlivesandtorestconfidentlyinhisembrace.Atthesametime,it

givesusashareinhisownlifeandlove.Whenwepray,“weopeneverythingwe

do” to him, and we give him room “so that he can act, enter and claim

victory”.

156Inthisway,wecanexperienceaconstantclosenesstohim,greaterthan

anythingwecanexperiencewithanotherperson:“ItisnolongerIwholive,but

it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20). Do not deprive your youth of this

friendship.Youwillbeabletofeelhimatyoursidenotonlywhenyoupray,but

ateverymoment.Trytolookforhim,andyouwillhavethebeautifulexperience

ofseeingthatheisalwaysatyourside.ThatiswhatthedisciplesofEmmaus

experienced when, as they walked along dejectedly, Jesus “drew near and

walked with them” (Lk 24:15). In the words of a saint, “Christianity is not a

collectionoftruthstobebelieved,rulestobefollowed,orprohibitions.Seenthat

way, it puts us off. Christianity is a person who loved me immensely, who

demandsandclaimsmylove.ChristianityisChrist”.

157JesuscanbringalltheyoungpeopleoftheChurchtogetherinasingle

dream,“agreatdream,adreamwithaplaceforeveryone.Thedreamforwhich

Jesusgavehislifeonthecross,forwhichtheHolySpiritwaspouredoutonthe

dayofPentecostandbroughtfiretotheheartofeverymanandwoman,toyour

heartandmine.Toyourhearttoo,he broughtthatfire, inthehopeoffinding

roomforittogrowandflourish.AdreamwhosenameisJesus,plantedbythe

Fatherintheconfidencethatitwouldgrowandliveineveryheart.Aconcrete

dream who is a person, running through our veins, thrilling our hearts and

makingthemdance”.

GROWTHINMATURITY

158Manyyoungpeopleareconcernedabouttheirbodies,tryingtobuildup

physical strength or improve their appearance. Others work to develop their

talentsandknowledge,soastofeelmoresureofthemselves.Someaimhigher,

seeking to become more involved and to grow spiritually. Saint John said: “I

writetoyou,youngpeople,becauseyouarestrongandthewordofGodabides

inyou”(1Jn2:14).SeekingtheLord,keepinghisword,entrustingourlifeto

himandgrowinginthevirtues:allthesethingsmakeyoungheartsstrong.That

iswhyyouneedtostayconnectedtoJesus,to“remainonline”withhim,since

youwillnotgrowhappyandholybyyourowneffortsandintelligencealone.

Justasyoutrynottoloseyourconnectiontotheinternet,makesurethatyou

stayconnectedtotheLord.Thatmeansnotcuttingoffdialogue,listeningtohim,

sharingyourlifewithhimand,wheneveryouaren’tsurewhatyoushoulddo,

askinghim:“Jesus,whatwouldyoudoinmyplace?”.

159 I hope that you will be serious enough about yourselves to make an

efforttogrowspiritually.Alongwithalltheotherexcitingthingsaboutyouth,

thereisalsothebeautyofseeking“righteousness,faith,loveandpeace”(2Tim

2:22). This does not involve losing anything of your spontaneity, boldness,

enthusiasm and tenderness. Becoming an adult does not mean you have to

abandonwhatisbestaboutthisstageofyourlives.Ifyoudo,theLordmayone

dayreproachyou:“Irememberthedevotionofyouryouth,yourloveasabride,

andhowyoufollowedmeinthewilderness”(Jer2:2).

160Adults,too,havetomaturewithoutlosingthevaluesofyouth.Every

stageoflifeisapermanentgrace,withitsownenduringvalue.Theexperience

ofayouthwelllivedalwaysremainsinourheart.Itcontinuestogrowandbear

fruitthroughoutadulthood. Youngpeople arenaturallyattracted byaninfinite

horizonopeningupbeforethem.

Adultlife,withitssecuritiesandcomforts,

can risk shrinking that horizon and losing that youthful excitement. The very

oppositeshouldhappen: aswemature, growolderand structureour lives, we

should never lose that enthusiasm and openness to an ever greater reality. At

every moment in life, we can renew our youthfulness. When I began my

ministry as Pope, the Lord broadened my horizons and granted me renewed

youth.Thesamethingcanhappentoacouplemarriedformanyyears,ortoa

monkinhismonastery.Therearethingsweneedto“letgoof”astheyearspass,

butgrowthinmaturitycancoexistwithafireconstantlyrekindled,withaheart

everyoung.

161 Growing older means preserving and cherishing the most precious

thingsaboutouryouth,butitalsoinvolveshavingtopurifythosethingsthatare

notgoodandreceivingnewgiftsfromGodsowecandevelopthethingsthat

really matter. At times, a certain inferiority complex can make you overlook

yourflawsandweaknesses,butthatcanholdyoubackfromgrowthinmaturity.

Instead,letyourselfbelovedbyGod,forhelovesyoujustasyouare.Hevalues

andrespectsyou,buthealsokeepsofferingyoumore:moreofhisfriendship,

morefervourinprayer,morehungerforhisword,morelongingtoreceiveChrist

inthe Eucharist,moredesiretolivebyhisGospel,more innerstrength,more

peaceandspiritualjoy.

162 But I would also remind you that you won’t become holy and find

fulfilmentbycopyingothers.ImitatingtheSaintsdoesnotmeancopyingtheir

lifestyleandtheirwayoflivingholiness:“Therearesometestimoniesthatmay

prove helpful and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could

even lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for

us”.

Youhavetodiscoverwhoyouareanddevelopyourownwayofbeing

holy,whateverothersmaysayorthink.Becomingasaintmeansbecomingmore

fullyyourself,becomingwhattheLordwishedtodreamandcreate,andnota

photocopy.Yourlifeoughttobeapropheticstimulustoothersandleaveamark

onthisworld,theuniquemarkthatonlyyoucanleave.Whereasifyousimply

copy someone else,youwilldeprivethisearth, and heaven too, of something

thatnooneelsecanoffer.IthinkofSaintJohnoftheCross,whowroteinhis

SpiritualCanticlethateveryoneshouldbenefitfromhisspiritualadvice“inhis

orherownway”,

fortheoneGodwishestomanifesthisgrace“tosomeinone

wayandtoothersinanother”.

PATHSOFFRATERNITY

163Yourspiritualgrowthisexpressedaboveallbyyourgrowthinfraternal,

generous and merciful love. Saint Paul prayed: “May the Lord make you

increase and abound in love for one another and for all” (1 Thes 3:12). How

wonderfulitwouldbetoexperiencethis“ecstasy”ofcomingoutofourselves

andseekingthegoodofothers,eventothesacrificeofourlives.

164WhenanencounterwithGodiscalledan“ecstasy”,itisbecauseittakes

usoutofourselves,liftsusupandoverwhelmsuswithGod’sloveandbeauty.

Yet we can also experienceecstasy when we recognize in others their hidden

beauty, their dignityand their grandeur as imagesof God and children ofthe

Father. The Holy Spirit wants to make us come out of ourselves, to embrace

otherswithloveandtoseektheirgood.Thatiswhyitisalwaysbettertolivethe

faith together and toshow our love by livingin community and sharing with

other young people our affection, our time, our faith and our troubles. The

Churchoffersmanydifferentpossibilitiesforlivingourfaithincommunity,for

everythingiseasierwhenwedoittogether.

165Hurtsyouhaveexperiencedmighttemptyoutowithdrawfromothers,

toturninonyourselfandtonursefeelingsofanger,butneverstoplisteningto

God’s call to forgiveness. The Bishops of Rwanda put it well: “In order to

reconcilewithanotherperson,youmustfirstofallbeabletoseethegoodnessin

thatperson,thegoodnessGodcreatedhimwith…Thisrequiresgreateffortto

distinguish the offence from the offender; it means you hate the offence the

personhascommitted,butyoulovethepersondespitehisweakness,becausein

himyouseetheimageofGod”.

166Therearetimeswhenallouryouthfulenergy,dreamsandenthusiasm

canflagbecauseweare temptedto dwellonourselvesandour problems,our

hurtfeelingsandourgrievances.Don’tletthishappentoyou!Youwillgrowold

beforeyourtime.Eachagehasitsbeauty,andtheyearsofouryouthneedtobe

marked by shared ideals, hopes and dreams, great horizons that we can

contemplatetogether.

167Godlovesthejoyofyoungpeople.Hewantsthemespeciallytosharein

thejoyoffraternal communion, the sublimejoyfeltby those who sharewith

others,for“itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive”(Acts20:35).“Godlovesa

cheerfulgiver” (2Cor 9:7). Fraternallovemultiplies ourabilityto experience

joy, since it makes us rejoice in the good of others: “Rejoice with those who

rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). May your youthful

spontaneity increasingly find expression in fraternal love and a constant

readiness to forgive, to be generous, and to build community. As an African

proverb says: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go

together”.Letusnotallowourselvestoberobbedoffraternity.

YOUNGANDCOMMITTED

168 At times, seeing a world so full of violence and selfishness, young

peoplecanbetemptedtowithdrawintosmallgroups,shunningthechallenges

andissuesposedbylifeinsocietyandinthelargerworld.Theymayfeelthat

they are experiencing fraternity and love, but their small group may in fact

become nothing other than an extension of their own ego. This is even more

seriousiftheythinkofthelayvocationsimplyasaformofserviceinsidethe

Church:servingaslectors,acolytes,catechists,andsoforth.Theyforgetthatthe

layvocationisdirectedabovealltocharitywithinthefamilyandtosocialand

politicalcharity.Itisaconcreteandfaith-basedcommitmenttothebuildingofa

newsociety.Itinvolveslivinginthemidstofsocietyandtheworldinorderto

bringtheGospeleverywhere,toworkforthegrowthofpeace,harmony,justice,

human rights and mercy, and thus for the extension of God’s kingdom in this

world.

169Iaskyoungpeopletogobeyondtheirsmallgroupsandtobuild“social

friendship,whereeveryoneworksforthecommongood.Socialenmity,onthe

other hand, is destructive. Families are destroyed by enmity. Countries are

destroyedbyenmity.Theworldisdestroyedbyenmity.Andthegreatestenmity

ofalliswar.Todayweseethattheworldisdestroyingitselfbywar…Sofind

waysofbuildingsocialfriendship”.

Itisnoteasy,italwaysmeanshavingto

givesomethingupandtonegotiate,butifwedoitforthesakeofhelpingothers,

we can have the magnificent experience of setting our differences aside and

workingtogetherforsomethinggreater.If,asaresultofourownsimpleandat

timescostlyefforts,wecanfindpointsofagreementamidconflict,buildbridges

andmakepeaceforthebenefitofall,thenwewillexperiencethemiracleofthe

cultureofencounter.Thisissomethingwhichyoungpeoplecandaretopursue

withpassion.

170 The Synod recognized that “albeit in a different way from earlier

generations, social commitment is a specific feature of today’s young people.

Alongside some who are indifferent, there are many others who are ready to

committhemselvestoinitiativesofvolunteerwork,activecitizenshipandsocial

solidarity.Theyneedtobeaccompaniedandencouragedtousetheirtalentsand

skills creatively, and to be encouraged to take up their responsibilities. Social

engagement and direct contact with the poor remain fundamental ways of

findingordeepeningone’sfaithandthediscernmentofone’svocation…Itwas

alsonotedthattheyoungarepreparedtoenterpoliticallifesoasto buildthe

commongood”.

171Today,thankGod,manyyoungpeopleinparishes,schools,movements

anduniversitygroupsoftengoouttospendtimewiththeelderlyandtheinfirm,

or to visitpoorneighbourhoods,ortomeetpeople’s needs through “nights of

charity”.Veryoften,theycometorealizethattheretheyreceivemuchmorethan

what they give. We grow in wisdom and maturity when we take the time to

touchthesufferingofothers.Thepoorhaveahiddenwisdomand,withafew

simplewords,theycanhelpusdiscoverunexpectedvalues.

172Otheryoungpeopletakepartinsocialprogrammesthatbuildhousesfor

thehomeless,orreclaimcontaminatedareasoroffervariouskindsofassistance

totheneedy.Itwouldbehelpfulifthissharedenergycouldbechannelledand

organized in a more stable way and with clear goals, so as to be even more

effective.Universitystudentscanapplytheirknowledgeinaninterdisciplinary

way, together with young people of other churches or religions, in order to

proposesolutionstosocialproblems.

173Asin the miracleofJesus, the breadandthefish providedbyyoung

peoplecanmultiply(cf.Jn6:4-13).Asintheparable,thesmallseedssownby

youngpeople canyieldarichharvest(cf.Mt 13:23.31-32).Allof this has its

livingsourceintheEucharist,inwhichourbreadandourwinearetransformed

to grant us eternal life. Young people face immense and difficult challenges.

WithfaithintherisenLord,theycan confrontthem withcreativityandhope,

ever ready to be of service, like the servants at the wedding feast, who

unknowingly cooperated in Jesus’ first miracle. They did nothing more than

follow the order of his Mother: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). Mercy,

creativityandhopemakelifegrow.

174Iwanttoencourageallofyouinthiseffort,becauseIknowthat“your

youngheartswanttobuildabetterworld.Ihavebeenfollowingnewsreportsof

themanyyoungpeoplethroughouttheworldwhohavetakentothestreetsto

expressthedesireforamorejustandfraternalsociety.Youngpeopletakingto

thestreets!Theyoungwanttobeprotagonistsofchange.Please,donotleaveit

to otherstobeprotagonists of change. Youaretheones who hold the future!

Throughyou,thefutureentersintotheworld.Iaskyoualsotobeprotagonists

ofthistransformation.Youaretheoneswhoholdthekeytothefuture!Continue

to fight apathy and to offer a Christian response to the social and political

troublesemergingindifferentpartsoftheworld.Iaskyoutobuildthefuture,to

workforabetterworld.Dearyoungpeople,please,donotbebystandersinlife.

Getinvolved!Jesuswasnotabystander.Hegotinvolved.Don’tstandaloof,but

immerseyourselvesintherealityoflife,asJesusdid”.

Aboveall,inoneway

or another, fight for the common good, serve the poor, be protagonists of the

revolution of charity and service, capable of resisting the pathologies of

consumerismandsuperficialindividualism.

COURAGEOUSMISSIONARIES

175FilledwiththeloveofChrist,youngpeoplearecalledtobewitnessesof

theGospelwherevertheyfindthemselves,bythewaytheylive.SaintAlberto

Hurtadooncesaidthat“beinganapostledoesnotmeanwearingalapelpin;itis

notaboutspeakingaboutthetruthbutlivingit,embodyingit,beingtransformed

inChrist.Beinganapostledoesnotmeancarryingatorchinhand,possessing

thelight,butbeingthatlight…TheGospel,morethanalesson,isanexample.A

messagethatbecomesalifefullylived”.

176Theimportanceofwitnessdoesnotmeanthatweshouldbesilentabout

theword.WhyshouldwenotspeakofJesus,whyshouldwenottellothersthat

hegivesusstrengthinlife,thatweenjoytalkingwithhim,thatwebenefitfrom

meditatingonhiswords?Youngpeople,donotlettheworlddrawyouonlyinto

thingsthatarewrongandsuperficial.Learntoswimagainstthetide,learnhow

toshareJesusandthefaithhehasgivenyou.Mayyoubemovedbythatsame

irresistibleimpulsethatledSaintPaultosay:“WoetomeifIdonotproclaim

theGospel”(1Cor9:16)!

177“WheredoesJesussendus?Therearenoborders,nolimits:hesendsus

everywhere. The Gospel is for everyone, not just for some. It is not only for

those who seem closer to us, more receptive, more welcoming. It is for

everyone.DonotbeafraidtogoandbringChristintoeveryareaoflife,tothe

fringesofsociety,eventothosewhoseemfarthestawayandmostindifferent.

TheLordseeksall;hewantseveryonetofeelthewarmthofhismercyandhis

love”.

 He invites us to be fearless missionaries wherever we are and in

whatevercompanywefindourselves:inourneighbourhoods,inschoolorsports

or social life, in volunteer service or in the workplace. Wherever we are, we

alwayshaveanopportunitytosharethejoyoftheGospel.ThatishowtheLord

goes out to meet everyone. He loves you, dear young people, for you are the

means by which he can spread his light and hope. He is counting on your

courage,yourboldnessandyourenthusiasm.

178Don’tthinkthatthismissionissoftandeasy.Someyoungpeoplehave

giventheirlivesforthesakeofmissionaryoutreach.AstheKoreanbishopsput

it:“wehopethatwecanbegrainsofwheatandinstrumentsforthesalvationof

humanity, following upon the example of the martyrs. Though our faith is as

smallasamustardseed,Godwillgiveitgrowthanduseitasaninstrumentfor

hisworkofsalvation”.

Youngfriends,don’twaituntiltomorrowtocontribute

your energy, your audacity and your creativity to changing our world. Your

youthisnotan“in-betweentime”.YouarethenowofGod,andhewantsyouto

bearfruit.

For“itisingivingthatwereceive”.

Thebestwaytopreparea

brightfutureistoexperiencethepresentasbestwecan,withcommitmentand

generosity.

BacktoContents

CHAPTERSIX

Youngpeoplewithroots

179 I have sometimes seen young and beautiful trees, their branches

reachingtothesky,pushingeverhigher,andtheyseemedasongofhope.Later,

followingastorm,Iwouldfindthemfallenandlifeless.Theylackeddeeproots.

Theyspreadtheirbrancheswithoutbeingfirmlyplanted,andsotheyfellassoon

as nature unleashed her power. That is why it pains me to see young people

sometimesbeingencouragedtobuildafuturewithoutroots,asiftheworldwere

juststartingnow.For“itisimpossibleforustogrowunlesswehavestrongroots

tosupportusandtokeepusfirmlygrounded.Itiseasytodriftoff,whenthereis

nothingtoclutchonto,toholdonto”.

DON’TALLOWYOURSELVESTOBEUPROOTED

180Thisisanimportantissue,andIwanttospendabriefchapterdiscussing

it.Ifweappreciatethisissue,wecandistinguishthejoyofyouthfromafalse

cultofyouththatcanbeusedtoseduceandmanipulateyoungpeople.

181Thinkaboutit:ifsomeonetellsyoungpeopletoignoretheirhistory,to

reject the experiences of their elders, to look down on the past and to look

forwardtoafuturethatheholdsout,doesn’titthenbecomeeasytodrawthem

alongsothattheyonlydowhathetellsthem?Heneedstheyoungtobeshallow,

uprooted and distrustful, so that they can trust only in his promises and act

accordingtohisplans.Thatishowvariousideologiesoperate:theydestroy(or

deconstruct)alldifferencessothattheycanreignunopposed.Todoso,however,

theyneedyoungpeoplewhohavenouseforhistory,whospurnthespiritualand

humanrichesinheritedfrompastgenerations,andareignorantofeverythingthat

camebeforethem.

182Thesemastersofmanipulationalsouseanothertactic:thecultofyouth,

which dismisses all that is not young as contemptible and outmoded. The

youthfulbodybecomesthesymbolofthisnewcult;everythingassociatedwith

thatbodyisidolizedandlustedafter,whilewhateverisnotyoungisdespised.

Butthiscultofyouthissimplyanexpedientthatultimatelyprovesdegradingto

theyoung;itstripsthemofanyrealvalueandusesthemforpersonal,financial

orpoliticalprofit.

183 Dear young friends,do not let them exploityour youth to promote a

shallowlifethatconfusesbeautywithappearances.Realizethatthereisbeauty

inthelabourerwhoreturnshomegrimyandunkempt,butwiththejoyofhaving

earnedfoodforhisfamily.Thereisextraordinarybeautyinthefellowshipofa

familyattable,generouslysharingwhatfoodithas.Thereisbeautyinthewife,

slightly dishevelled and no longer young, who continues to care for her sick

husband despite her own failing health. Long after the springtime of their

courtship has passed, there is beauty in thefidelityofthose couples who still

loveoneanotherintheautumnoflife,thoseelderlypeoplewhostillholdhands

as they walk. There is also a beauty, unrelated to appearances or fashionable

dress,inallthosemenandwomenwhopursuetheirpersonalvocationwithlove,

inselflessserviceofcommunityornation,inthehardworkofbuildingahappy

family,intheselflessanddemandingefforttoadvancesocialharmony.Tofind,

todiscloseandtohighlightthisbeauty,whichislikethatofChristonthecross,

istolaythefoundationsofgenuinesocialsolidarityandthecultureofencounter.

184Alongwiththestratagemsofafalsecultofyouthandappearance,we

arealsowitnessingattemptstopromoteaspiritualitywithoutGod,anaffectivity

withoutcommunityorconcernforthosewhosuffer,afearofthepoor,viewedas

dangerous, and a variety of claims to offer a future paradise that nonetheless

seemsincreasinglydistant.Idonotwanttoofferyouanysuchthing,andwith

greatloveIurgeyounottoletyourselvesbetakeninbythisideology.Itwillnot

makeyouanyyounger,butenslaveyouinstead.Iproposeanotherway,oneborn

of freedom, enthusiasm, creativity and new horizons, while at the same time

cultivatingtherootsthatnourishandsustainus.

185Inthisregard,Iwouldnotethat“manySynodFatherscomingfromnon-

Westerncontextspointedoutthatintheircountriesglobalizationisbringingwith

itformsofculturalcolonizationthatseveryoungpeoplefromtheirculturaland

religiousroots.TheChurchneedstomakeacommitmenttoaccompanyingthese

youngpeople,sothatintheprocesstheydonotlosesightofthemostprecious

featuresoftheiridentity”.

186 Today, in fact, we see a tendency to “homogenize” young people,

blurring what is distinctive about their origins and backgrounds, and turning

theminto anew lineofmalleablegoods. Thisproducesaculturaldevastation

thatisjustasseriousasthedisappearanceofspeciesofanimalsandplants.

100

Forthisreason, in addressingyoungindigenous people gatheredinPanama, I

encouraged them to “care for your roots, because from the roots comes the

strengththatisgoingtomakeyougrow,flourishandbearfruit”.

101

YOURRELATIONSHIPWITHTHEELDERLY

187AttheSynod,weheardthat“theyoungarefocusedonthefutureand

theyfacelifewithenergyanddynamism.Buttheyarealsotempted…togive

littleattentiontothememoryofthepastfromwhichtheycome,inparticularthe

many gifts transmitted to them by their parents, their grandparents and the

cultural experience of the society in which they live. Helping the young to

discoverthelivingrichnessofthepast,totreasureitsmemoryandtomakeuse

ofitfortheirchoicesandopportunities,isagenuineactoflovetowardsthem,

forthesakeoftheirgrowthandthedecisionstheyarecalledtomake”.

102

188ThewordofGodencouragesustoremainclosetotheelderly,sothat

wecanbenefitfromtheirexperience:“Standintheassemblyoftheelders.Who

iswise? Clingtohim…Ifyouseeanintelligentman, visithim; letyourfoot

wearouthisdoorstep”(Sir6:34.36).Ineverycase,thelongyearstheylivedand

alltheyhaveexperiencedinlifeshouldmakeuslooktothemwithrespect:“You

shallriseupbeforethehoaryhead”(Lev19:32).For“thegloryofyoungmenis

theirstrength,butthebeautyofoldmenistheirgreyhair”(Prov20:29).

189TheBiblealsotellsus:“Listentoyourfatherwhobegotyou,anddonot

despiseyourmotherwhensheisold”(Prov23:22).Thecommandtohonourour

fatherandmother“isthefirstcommandmenttocarryapromisewithit”(Eph

6:2,cf.Ex20:12;Deut5:16;Lev19:3),andthatpromiseis:“thatitmaybewell

withyouandthatyoumaylivelongontheearth”(Eph6:3).

190 This does not mean having to agree with everything adults say or

approvingalltheiractions.Ayoungpersonshouldalwayshaveacriticalspirit.

Saint Basil the Great encouraged the young to esteem the classical Greek

authors, but to accept only whatever good they could teach.

103

 It is really a

matter of being open to receiving a wisdom passed down from generation to

generation,awisdomfamiliarwithhumanweaknessandnotdeservingtovanish

beforethenoveltiesofconsumersocietyandthemarket.

191Theworldhasneverbenefited,norwilliteverbenefit,fromarupture

betweengenerations.Thatisthesirensongofafuturewithoutrootsandorigins.

It is the lie that would have you believe that only what is new is good and

beautiful. When intergenerational relationships exist, a collective memory is

present in communities, as each generation takes up the teachings of its

predecessorsandinturnbequeathsalegacytoitssuccessors.Inthisway,they

provide frames of reference for firmly establishing a new society. As the old

sayinggoes:“Iftheyounghadknowledgeandtheoldstrength,therewouldbe

nothingtheycouldnotaccomplish”.

DREAMSANDVISIONS

192TheprophecyofJoelcontainsaversethatexpressesthisnicely:“Iwill

pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall

prophesy,andyouryoungmenshallseevisions,andyouroldmenshalldream

dreams”(3:1;cf. Acts 2:17). When young and oldalikeareopentotheHoly

Spirit, they make a wonderful combination. The old dream dreams, and the

youngseevisions.Howdothetwocomplementoneanother?

193Theelderlyhavedreamsbuiltupofmemoriesandimagesthatbearthe

markoftheirlongexperience.Ifyoungpeoplesinkrootsinthosedreams,they

canpeerintothefuture;theycanhavevisionsthatbroadentheirhorizonsand

showthemnewpaths.Butiftheelderlydonotdream,youngpeopleloseclear

sightofthehorizon.

194Perhapsourparentshavepreservedamemorythatcanhelpusimagine

the dream our grandparents dreamed for us. All of us, even before our birth,

received,asablessingfromourgrandparents,adreamfilledwithloveandhope,

thedreamofabetterlife.Evenifnotourgrandparents,surelysomeofourgreat-

grandparentshadthathappydreamastheycontemplatedtheirchildrenandthen

grandchildreninthecradle.Theveryfirstdreamofallisthecreativedreamof

Godour Father, whichprecedes andaccompaniesthelives ofallhischildren.

The memory of this blessing that extends from generation to generation is a

preciouslegacythatweshouldkeepalivesothatwetoocanpassiton.

195Thatiswhyitisagoodthingtoletolderpeopletelltheirlongstories,

whichsometimesseemlegendaryorfanciful–theyarethedreamsofoldpeople

–yetareoftenfullofrichexperiences,ofeloquentsymbols,ofhiddenmessages.

Thesestoriestaketimetotell,andweshouldbepreparedtolistenpatientlyand

letthemsinkin,eventhoughtheyaremuchlongerthanwhatweareusedtoin

social media. We have to realize that the wisdom needed for life bursts the

confinesofourpresent-daymediaresources.

196InthebookSharingtheWisdomofTime,

104

Iexpressedsomethoughts

in the form of questions. “What do I ask of the elders among whom I count

myself?Icallustobememorykeepers.Wegrandfathersandgrandmothersneed

to form a choir. I envision elders as a permanent choir of a great spiritual

sanctuary,whereprayersofsupplicationandsongsofpraisesupportthelarger

communitythatworksandstrugglesinthefieldoflife”.

105

Itisabeautifulthing

when“youngmenandmaidenstogether,oldmenandchildren,praisethename

oftheLord”(Ps148:12-13).

197Whatcanweelderlypersonsgivetotheyoung?“Wecanremindtoday’s

youngpeople,whohavetheir ownblendofheroicambitions andinsecurities,

thatalifewithoutloveisanaridlife”.

106

Whatcanwetellthem?“Wecantell

fearfulyoungpeoplethatanxietyaboutthefuturecanbeovercome”.

107

What

canweteachthem?“Wecanteachthoseyoungpeople,sometimessofocusedon

themselves,thatthereismorejoyingivingthaninreceiving,andthatloveisnot

onlyshowninwords,butalsoinactions”.

108

TAKINGRISKSTOGETHER

198Alovethatisgenerousandoutgoing,thatactsandtakesrisks,mayat

timesmakemistakes.HerewemayfindtimelythewitnessofMariaGabriella

Perin, who lost her father shortly after her birth: she reflects on how this

influencedherlife,inarelationshipthatdidnotlastbutthatleftheramother

andnowagrandmother.“WhatIknowisthatGodmakesstories.Inhisgenius

andmercy,hetakesourtriumphsandourfailuresandweavesbeautifultapestries

thatarefullofirony.Thereverseofthefabricmaylookmessywithitstangled

threads–theeventsofourlife–andmaybethisisthesidewedwellonwhenwe

doubt.Buttherightsideofthetapestrydisplaysamagnificentstory,andthisis

the side thatGodsees”.

109

 When older people lookat life closely, often they

instinctivelyknowwhatliesbehindthetangledthreads,andtheyrecognizewhat

Godcancreateevenoutofourmistakes.

199Ifwejourneytogether,youngandold,wecanbefirmlyrootedinthe

present,andfromhere,revisitthepastandlooktothefuture.Torevisitthepast

inordertolearnfromhistoryandhealoldwoundsthatattimesstilltroubleus.

To look to the future in order to nourish our enthusiasm, cause dreams to

emerge,awakenpropheciesandenablehopetoblossom.Together,wecanlearn

fromoneanother,warmhearts,inspiremindswiththelightoftheGospel,and

lendnewstrengthtoourhands.

200Rootsarenotanchorschainingustopasttimesandpreventingusfrom

facingthepresent andcreatingsomethingnew.Instead,they areafixed point

fromwhichwecangrowandmeetnewchallenges.Itdoesusnogood“tosit

downandlongfortimespast;wemustmeetourculturewithrealismandlove

and fill it with the Gospel. We are sent today to proclaim the Good News of

Jesustoanewage.Weneedtolovethistimewithallitsopportunitiesandrisks,

itsjoysandsorrows,itsrichesanditslimits,itssuccessesandfailures”.

110

201DuringtheSynod,oneoftheyoungauditorsfromtheSamoanIslands

spokeoftheChurchasacanoe,inwhichtheelderlyhelptokeeponcourseby

judgingthepositionofthestars,whiletheyoungkeeprowing,imaginingwhat

waitsforthemahead.Letussteerclearofyoungpeoplewhothinkthatadults

representameaninglesspast,andthoseadultswhoalwaysthinktheyknowhow

young people should act.Instead, let us all climbaboard the same canoe and

togetherseekabetterworld,withtheconstantlyrenewedmomentumoftheHoly

Spirit.

BacktoContents

CHAPTERSEVEN

YouthMinistry

202 Youth ministry, as traditionally carried out, has been significantly

affectedbysocialandculturalchanges.Youngpeoplefrequentlyfailtofindin

ourusualprogrammesaresponsetotheirconcerns,theirneeds,theirproblems

and issues. The proliferation and growth of groups and movements

predominantlyassociatedwiththeyoungcanbeconsideredtheworkoftheHoly

Spiritwhoconstantlyshowsusnewpaths.Evenso,thereisaneedtolookatthe

wayssuchgroupsparticipateintheChurch’soverallpastoralcare,aswellasa

need for greater communion among them and a better coordination of their

activities.Althoughitisnevereasytoapproachyoungpeople,twothingshave

becomeincreasinglyevident:therealizationthattheentirecommunityhastobe

involved in evangelizing them, and the urgent requirement that young people

takeonagreaterroleinpastoraloutreach.

APASTORALCARETHATISSYNODAL

203Iwanttostateclearlythatyoungpeoplethemselvesareagentsofyouth

ministry.Certainlytheyneedtohehelpedandguided,butatthesametimeleft

freetodevelopnewapproaches,withcreativityandacertainaudacity.SoIwill

not attempthereto propose a kind of manual ofyouthministryor a practical

pastoral guide. I am more concerned with helping young people to use their

insight, ingenuity and knowledge to address the issues and concerns of other

youngpeopleintheirownlanguage.

204Theyoungmakeusseetheneedfornewstylesandnewstrategies.For

example, while adults often worry about having everything properly planned,

with regular meetings and fixed times, most young people today have little

interestinthiskindofpastoralapproach.Youthministryneedstobecomemore

flexible: inviting young people to events or occasions that provide an

opportunitynotonlyforlearning,butalsoforconversing,celebrating,singing,

listeningtorealstoriesandexperiencingasharedencounterwiththelivingGod.

205 At the same time, we should take into greater consideration those

practicesthathaveshowntheirvalue–themethods,languageandaimsthathave

provedtrulyeffectiveinbringingyoungpeopletoChristandtheChurch.Itdoes

not matter where they are coming from or what labels they have received,

whether “conservative” or “liberal”, “traditional” or “progressive”. What is

important is that we make use of everything that has borne good fruit and

effectivelycommunicatesthejoyoftheGospel.

206 Youth ministry has to be synodal; it should involve a “journeying

together”thatvalues“thecharismsthattheSpiritbestowsinaccordancewiththe

vocation and role ofeach of the Church’s members,through a process of co-

responsibility…Motivatedby thisspirit,wecanmovetowardsaparticipatory

and co-responsible Church, one capable of appreciating its own rich variety,

gratefullyacceptingthecontributionsofthelayfaithful,includingyoungpeople

and women, consecrated persons, as well as groups, associations and

movements.Nooneshouldbeexcludedorexcludethemselves”.

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207 In this way, by learning from one another, we can better reflect that

wonderfulmultifacetedrealitythatChrist’sChurchismeanttobe.Shewillbe

abletoattractyoungpeople,forherunityisnotmonolithic,butratheranetwork

ofvariedgiftsthattheSpiritceaselesslypoursoutuponher,renewingherand

liftingherupfromherpoverty.

208 In the Synod, many concrete proposals emerged for renewing youth

ministryandfreeingitfromapproachesthatarenolongereffectivebecausethey

are incapable of entering into dialogue with contemporary youth culture.

Naturally,Icannotlistthemallhere.AnumberofthemcanbefoundintheFinal

DocumentoftheSynod.

MAINCOURSESOFACTION

209 I wish simply to emphasize that youth ministry involves two main

coursesofaction.Oneisoutreach,thewayweattractnewyoungpeopletoan

experienceoftheLord.Theotherisgrowth,thewaywehelpthosewhohave

alreadyhadthatexperiencetomatureinit.

210Asforoutreach,Itrustthatyoungpeoplethemselvesknowhowbestto

findappealingwaystocometogether.Theyknowhowtoorganizeevents,sports

competitionsandwaystoevangelizeusingsocialmedia,throughtextmessages,

songs,videosandotherways.Theyonlyhavetobeencouragedandgiventhe

freedom to be enthused about evangelizing other young people wherever they

aretobefound.Whenthemessageisfirstbroughtup,whetheratayouthretreat,

in a conversation at a bar, on school holidays, or in any of God’s mysterious

ways,itcanawakenadeepexperienceoffaith.Whatismostimportant,though,

isthateachyoungpersoncanbedaringenoughtosowtheseedofthemessage

onthatfertileterrainthatistheheartofanotheryoungperson.

211Inthisoutreach,weneedtouseaboveallthelanguageofcloseness,the

language of generous, relational and existential love that touches the heart,

impactslife,andawakenshopeanddesires.Youngpeopleneedtobeapproached

withthe grammaroflove,notbybeingpreachedat.The languagethat young

peopleunderstandisspokenbythosewhoradiatelife,bythosewhoaretherefor

themandwiththem.Andthosewho,foralltheirlimitationsandweaknesses,try

tolivetheirfaithwithintegrity.Wealsohavetogivegreaterthoughttowaysof

incarnatingthekerygmainthelanguageoftoday’syouth.

212Asforgrowth, I would makeone important point. In some places,it

happensthatyoungpeoplearehelpedtohaveapowerfulexperienceofGod,an

encounterwithJesusthattouchedtheirhearts.Buttheonlyfollow-uptothisisa

seriesof“formation”meetingsfeaturingtalksaboutdoctrinalandmoralissues,

the evils of today’s world, the Church, her social doctrine, chastity, marriage,

birthcontrolandsoon.Asaresult,manyyoungpeoplegetbored,theylosethe

fireoftheirencounterwithChristandthejoyoffollowinghim;manygiveup

andothersbecomedowncastornegative.Ratherthanbeingtooconcernedwith

communicatingagreatdealofdoctrine,letusfirsttrytoawakenandconsolidate

the great experiences that sustain the Christian life. In the words of Romano

Guardini,“whenweexperienceagreatlove…everythingelsebecomespartof

it”.

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213 Any educational project or path of growth for young people must

certainly include formation in Christian doctrine and morality. It is likewise

importantthatithavetwomaingoals.Oneisthedevelopmentofthekerygma,

thefoundational experienceof encounterwith Godthrough Christ’s deathand

resurrection.Theotherisgrowthinfraternallove,communitylifeandservice.

214ThiswassomethingIemphasizedinEvangeliiGaudium,andIconsider

it worth repeating here. It would be a serious mistake to think that in youth

ministry“thekerygmashouldgivewaytoasupposedlymore‘solid’formation.

Nothingismoresolid,profound,secure,meaningfulandwisdom-filledthanthat

initial proclamation. All Christian formation consists of entering more deeply

into the kerygma”

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 and incarnating it ever more fully in our lives.

Consequently,youthministryshouldalwaysincludeoccasionsforrenewingand

deepeningourpersonalexperienceoftheloveofGodandthelivingChrist.It

candothisinavarietyofways:testimonies,songs,momentsofadoration,times

of spiritual reflection on the sacred Scriptures, and even an intelligent use of

social networks. Yet this joyful experienceof encounter with the Lord should

neverbereplacedbyakindof“indoctrination”.

215 On the other hand, any programme of youth ministry should clearly

incorporate various means and resources that can help young people grow in

fraternity,toliveasbrothersandsisters,tohelponeanother,tobuildcommunity,

tobeofservicetoothers,tobeclosetothepoor.Iffraternalloveisthe“new

commandment”(Jn13:34),“thefullnessoftheLaw”(Rom13:10)andourbest

wayofshowingourloveforGod,thenithastohaveaprimaryplaceinevery

projectofyouthformationandgrowthtomaturity.

SUITABLEENVIRONMENTS

216 We need to make all our institutions better equipped to be more

welcomingtoyoungpeople,sincesomanyhavearealsenseofbeingorphaned.

Here I am not referring to family problems but to something experienced by

boysandgirls,youngpeopleandadults,parentsandchildrenalike.Toallthese

orphans – including perhaps ourselves – communities like a parish or school

should offer possibilities for experiencing openness and love, affirmation and

growth.Manyyoungpeopletodayfeelthattheyhaveinheritedthefaileddreams

oftheirparentsandgrandparents,dreamsbetrayedbyinjustice,socialviolence,

selfishnessandlackofconcernforothers.Inaword,theyfeeluprooted.Ifthe

younggrow upin aworld inashes, itwillbehardforthemtokeepalivethe

flame of great dreams and projects. If they grow up in a desert devoid of

meaning,wherewilltheydevelopadesiretodevotetheirlivestosowingseeds?

Theexperienceofdiscontinuity,uprootednessandthecollapseoffundamental

certainties, fostered by today’s media culture, creates a deep sense of

orphanhood to which we must respond by creating an attractive and fraternal

environmentwhereotherscanlivewithasenseofpurpose.

217Inaword,tocreatea“home”istocreate“afamily”.“Itistolearnto

feelconnectedtoothersbymorethanmerelyutilitarianandpracticalbonds,to

beunitedinsuchawayastofeelthatourlifeisabitmorehuman.Tocreatea

homeistoletprophecytakefleshandmakeourhoursanddayslesscold,less

indifferentandanonymous.Itistocreatebondsbysimple,everydayactsthatall

of us can perform. A home, as we all know, demands that everyone work

together.Noonecanbeindifferentorstandapart,sinceeachisastoneneededto

buildthehome.ThisalsoinvolvesaskingtheLordtograntusthegracetolearn

how to be patient, to forgive one another, to start over each day. How many

timesshouldIforgiveandstartover?Seventytimesseventimes,asmanytimes

asnecessary.Tocreatestrongbondsrequiresconfidenceandtrustnurtureddaily

bypatienceand forgiveness.And thatishow themiracletakes place:wefeel

thatherewearereborn,hereweareallreborn,becausewefeelGod’scaressthat

enables us to dream of a more human world, and therefore of a world more

divine”.

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218 Along these lines, our institutions should provide young people with

places they can make their own, where they can come and go freely, feel

welcomeandreadilymeetotheryoungpeople,whetherattimesofdifficultyand

frustration, or of joy and celebration. Some of this is already happening in

oratories and other youth centres, which in many cases offer a friendly and

relaxedsettingwherefriendshipscangrow,whereyoungmenandwomencan

meetoneanother,wheretheycansharemusic,games,sports,butalsoreflection

andprayer. In suchplaces,much can be offered, without greatexpenditureof

funds.Thentoo,theperson-to-personcontactindispensableforpassingonthe

message can happen, somethingwhose place cannot be taken byany pastoral

resourceorstrategy.

219“Friendshipanddiscussion,oftenwithinmoreorlessstructuredgroups,

offer the opportunity to strengthen social and relational skills in a context in

which one is neither analysed nor judged. Group experience is also a great

resourceforsharingthefaithandformutualhelpinbearingwitness.Theyoung

areabletoguideotheryoungpeopleandtoexerciseagenuineapostolateamong

theirfriends”.

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220Thisisnottosaythattheyshouldbecomeisolatedandloseallcontact

withparishcommunities, movements andotherecclesialinstitutions. Butthey

willbebetterintegratedintocommunitiesthatareopen,livingtheirfaith,eager

toradiateChrist,joyful,free,fraternalandcommitted.Thesecommunitiescan

besettingswheretheyfeelthatitispossibletocultivatepreciousrelationships.

Youthministryineducationalinstitutions

221Schoolsareunquestionablyaplatformfordrawingclosetochildrenand

young people. Precisely because they are such privileged places of personal

development, the Christian community has always been concerned to train

teachersandadministrators,andtofounditsownschoolsofvariouskindsand

levels. In this field of educating the young, the Spirit has raised up countless

charisms and examples of holiness. Yet schools are in urgent need of self-

criticism, if we consider the resultsof their pastoral outreach, which in many

cases focuses onakindofreligiousinstructionthat proves often incapable of

nurturing lasting experiences of faith. Some Catholic schools seem to be

structured only for the sake of self-preservation. Fear of change makes them

entrenchedanddefensivebeforethedangers,realorimagined,thatanychange

might bring. A school that becomes a “bunker”, protecting its students from

errors“fromwithout”isacaricatureofthistendency.Yetthisimagereflects,ina

chilling way, what many young people experience when they graduate from

certaineducationalinstitutions:aninsurmountabledisconnectbetweenwhatthey

weretaughtandtheworldinwhichtheylive.Thewaytheywereinstructedin

religious and moral values did not prepare them to uphold those values in a

world that holds them up to ridicule, nor did they learn ways of praying and

practicing the faith that can be easily sustained amid the fast pace of today’s

society.Foroneofthegreatestjoysthatanyeducatorcanhaveistoseeastudent

turnintoastrong,well-integratedperson,aleader,someonepreparedtogive.

222 Catholic schools remain essentialplacesfor the evangelization of the

young.Accountshouldbetakenofanumberofguidingprinciplessetforthin

VeritatisGaudiumfortherenewalandrevivalofmissionaryoutreachonthepart

of schools and universities. These include a fresh experience of the kerygma,

wide-ranging dialogue, interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches, the

promotion of a cultureof encounter, theurgency of creating networks and an

option in favour of those who are least, those whom society discards.

116

Similarlyimportantistheabilitytointegratetheknowledgeofhead,heartand

hands.

223Ontheotherhand,wecannotseparatespiritualfromculturalformation.

TheChurchhasalwayssoughttodevelopwaysofprovidingtheyoungwiththe

besteducationpossible.Norshouldshestopnow,foryoungpeoplehavearight

toit.“Today,aboveall,therighttoagoodeducationmeansprotectingwisdom,

that is, knowledge that is human and humanizing. All too often we are

conditionedbytrivialandfleetingmodelsoflifethatdriveustopursuesuccess

atalowprice,discreditingsacrificeandinculcatingtheideathateducationisnot

necessaryunlessitimmediatelyprovidesconcreteresults.No,educationmakes

usraisequestions,keepsusfrombeinganaesthetizedbybanality,andimpelsus

topursuemeaninginlife.Weneedtoreclaimourrightnottobesidetrackedby

themanysirensthatnowadaysdistractfromthispursuit.Ulysses,inordernotto

giveintothesirensongthatbewitchedhissailorsandmadethemcrashagainst

therocks,tiedhimselftothemastoftheshipandhadhiscompanionsplugtheir

ears.Orpheus,ontheotherhand,didsomethingelsetocounterthesirensong:

he intoned an even more beautiful melody, which enchanted the sirens. This,

then, is your great challenge: to respond to the crippling refrains of cultural

consumerismwiththoughtfulandfirmdecisions,withresearch,knowledgeand

sharing”.

117

AREASNEEDINGTOBEDEVELOPED

224Many youngpeoplehavecometoappreciatesilence andclosenessto

God.GroupsthatgathertoadoretheBlessedSacramentortopraywiththeword

ofGodhavealsoincreased.Weshouldneverunderestimatetheabilityofyoung

peopletobeopentocontemplativeprayer.Weneedonlyfindtherightwaysand

means to help them embark on this precious experience. When it comes to

worship and prayer, “in many settings, young Catholics are asking for prayer

opportunities and sacramental celebrations capable of speaking to their daily

livesthroughafresh,authenticandjoyfulliturgy”.

118

Itisimportanttomakethe

most of the great moments of the liturgical year, particularly Holy Week,

Pentecost and Christmas. But other festive occasions can provide a welcome

breakintheirroutineandhelpthemexperiencethejoyoffaith.

225 Christian service represents a unique opportunity for growth and

opennesstoGod’sgiftsoffaithandcharity.Manyyoungpeopleareattractedby

the possibility of helping others, especially children and the poor. Often this

service is the first step toadiscovery or rediscovery of life in Christandthe

Church. Many young people grow weary of our programmes of doctrinal and

spiritual formation, and at timesdemand a chance to beactive participants in

activitiesthatbenefitothers.

226Norcanweoverlooktheimportanceofthearts,liketheatre,painting,

and others. “Music is particularly important, representing as it does a real

environmentinwhichtheyoungareconstantlyimmersed,aswellasaculture

andalanguagecapableofarousingemotionandshapingidentity.Thelanguage

of music also represents a pastoral resource with a particular bearing on the

liturgyanditsrenewal”.
119
Singingcanbeagreatincentivetoyoungpeopleas
theymaketheirwaythroughlife.AsSaintAugustinesays:“Sing,butcontinue
onyourjourney.Donotgrowlazy,butsingtomakethewaymoreenjoyable.
Sing,butkeepgoing…Ifyoumakeprogress,youwillcontinueyourjourney,
butbesurethatyourprogressisinvirtue,truefaithandrightliving.Singthen,
andkeepwalking”.
120
227“Equallysignificantistheemphasisthatyoungpeopleplaceonsports;
the Church should notunderestimatethe potential of sports foreducation and
formation,butinsteadmaintainastrongpresencethere.Theworldofsportneeds
tobehelpedtoovercomesomeofitsproblematicaspects,suchastheidolization
ofchampions,subserviencetocommercialinterestsandtheideologyofsuccess
at any cost”.
121
 At the heart of the experience of sport is “joy: the joy of
exercising,ofbeingtogether,ofbeingaliveandrejoicinginthegiftstheCreator
gives us each day”.
122
 Some Fathers of the Church used the example of the
training of athletes to encourage the young to develop their strength and to
overcomeidlenessandboredom.SaintBasiltheGreat,writingtoyoungpeople,
usedtheeffortdemandedbyathleticstoillustratethevalueofself-sacrificeasa
meansofgrowthinvirtue:“Thesemenenduresufferingsbeyondnumber,they
usemanymeanstobuildtheirstrength,theysweatconstantlyastheytrain…ina
word,theysodisciplinethemselvesthattheirwholelifepriortothecontestis
butapreparationforit…Howthencanwe,whohavebeenpromisedrewardsso
wondrous in number and in splendour that no tongue can recount them, even
thinkofwinningthemifwedonothingotherthanspendourlivesinleisureand
makebuthalf-heartedefforts?”
123
228Natureholdsaspecialattractionformanyadolescentsandyoungpeople
whorecognizeourneedtocarefortheenvironment.Suchisthecasewiththe
scouting movement and other groups that encourage closeness to nature,
campingtrips,hiking,expeditionsandcampaignstoimprovetheenvironment.
InthespiritofSaintFrancisofAssisi,theseexperiencescanbearealinitiation
intotheschoolofuniversalfraternityandcontemplativeprayer.
229Theseandvariousotheropportunitiesforevangelizingtheyoungshould
not make usforget that, despite the changingtimesandsensibilitiesof young
people, there are gifts of God that never grow old, for they contain a power

transcendingalltimesandplaces.ThereisthewordoftheLord,everlivingand

effective,thenourishingpresenceofChristintheEucharist,andthesacrament

ofReconciliation,whichbringsusfreedomandstrength.Wecanalsomention

theinexhaustiblespiritualrichespreservedbytheChurchinthewitnessofher

saints and the teaching of the great spiritual masters. Although we have to

respect different stages of growth, and at times need to wait patiently for the

right moment, we cannot fail to invite young people to drink from these

wellspringsofnewlife.Wehavenorighttodeprivethemofthisgreatgood.

A“POPULAR”YOUTHMINISTRY

230Inadditiontotheordinary,well-plannedpastoralministrythatparishes

and movements carry out, it is also important to allow room for a “popular”

youthministry,withadifferentstyle,schedule,paceandmethod.Broaderand

moreflexible,itgoesouttothoseplaceswhererealyoungpeopleareactive,and

fostersthenaturalleadershipqualitiesandthecharismssownbytheHolySpirit.

Ittriestoavoidimposingobstacles,rules,controlsandobligatorystructureson

these young believers who are natural leaders in their neighbourhoods and in

othersettings.Weneedonlytoaccompanyandencouragethem,trustingalittle

moreinthegeniusoftheHolySpirit,whoactsashewills.

231Wearespeakingoftruly“popular”leaders,notelitistsorthoseclosed

off in small groups of select individuals. To be able to generate a “popular”

ministry to youth, “they need to learn to listen to the sense of the people, to

become their spokespersons and to work for their promotion”.

124

 When we

speakof“thepeople”,wearenotspeakingaboutthestructuresofsocietyorthe

Church, but about all those persons who journey, not as individuals, but as a

closely-boundcommunityofallandforall,onethatrefusesto leavethepoor

andthevulnerablebehind.“Thepeoplewantseveryonetoshareinthecommon

goodandthusagreetokeeppacewithitsleastmembers,sothatallcanarrive

together”.

125

“Popular”leaders,then,arethoseabletomakeeveryone,including

thepoor,thevulnerable,thefrailandthewounded,partoftheforwardmarchof

youth.Theydonotshunorfearthoseyoungpeoplewhohaveexperiencedhurt

orbornetheweightofthecross.

232Similarly,especiallyinthecaseofyoungpeoplewhodonotcomefrom

Christianfamiliesorinstitutions,andareslowlygrowingtomaturity,wehaveto

encourageallthegoodthatwecan.

126

Christwarnedusnottoseeonlythegood

grain(cf.Mt13:24-30).Attimes,intheattempttodevelopapureandperfect

youthministry,markedbyabstractideas,protectedfromtheworldandfreeof

every flaw, we can turn the Gospel into a dull, meaningless and unattractive

proposition.Suchayouthministryendsupcompletelyremovedfromtheworld

of young people and suited onlytoan elite Christian youth that sees itself as

different,whilelivinginanemptyandunproductiveisolation.Inrejectingthe

weeds,wealsouprootorchokeanynumberofshootstryingtospringupinspite

oftheirlimitations.

233Insteadof“overwhelmingyoungpeoplewithabodyofrulesthatmake

Christianity seem reductive and moralistic, we are called to invest in their

fearlessness and to train them to take up their responsibilities, in the sure

knowledgethaterror,failureandcrisisareexperiencesthatcanstrengthentheir

humanity”.

127

234The Synodcalled forthe developmentof ayouthministrycapableof

beinginclusive,withroomforallkindsofyoungpeople,toshowthatwearea

Churchwithopendoors.Nordoesonehavetoacceptfullyalltheteachingsof

theChurchtotakepartincertainofouractivitiesforyoungpeople.Itisenough

tohaveanopenmindtowardsallthosewhohavethedesireandwillingnessto

be encountered by God’s revealed truth. Some of our pastoral activities can

assumethatajourneyoffaithhasalreadybegun,butweneeda“popular”youth

ministrythatcanopendoorsandmakeroomforeveryone,withtheirdoubtsand

frustrations,theirproblemsandtheireffortstofindthemselves,theirpasterrors,

theirexperiencesofsinandalltheirdifficulties.

235Roomshouldalsobemadefor“allthosewhohaveothervisionsoflife,

who belong to other religions or who distance themselves from religion

altogether.Alltheyoung,withoutexception,areinGod’sheartandthusinthe

Church’s heart. We recognize frankly that this statement on our lips does not

alwaysfindrealexpressioninourpastoralactions:oftenweremainclosedinour

environments, where their voice does not penetrate, or else we dedicate

ourselves to less demanding and more enjoyable activities, suppressing that

healthypastoralrestlessnessthatwouldurgeustomoveoutfromoursupposed

security.TheGospelalsoasks ustobedaring,andwewanttobeso,without

presumption and without proselytizing, testifying to the love of the Lord and

stretchingoutourhandstoalltheyoungpeopleintheworld”.

128

236 Youth ministry, when it ceases to be elitist and is willing to be

“popular”,isaprocessthatisgradual,respectful,patient,hopeful,tirelessand

compassionate. The Synod proposed the example of the disciples of Emmaus

(cf.Lk24:13-35)asamodelofwhathappensinyouthministry.

237“Jesuswalkswithtwodiscipleswhodidnotgraspthemeaningofall

that happened to him, and are leaving Jerusalem and the community behind.

Wantingtoaccompanythem,hejoinsthemontheway.Heasksthemquestions

and listenspatientlyto their version of events, andinthisway he helps them

recognize what they were experiencing. Then, with affection and power, he

proclaims the word to them, leading them to interpret the events they had

experiencedinthelightoftheScriptures.Heacceptstheirinvitationtostaywith

themaseveningfalls;heentersintotheirnight.Astheylistentohimspeak,their

heartsburnwithinthemandtheirmindsareopened;theythenrecognizehimin

the breaking of the bread. Theythemselveschoosetoresumetheirjourneyat

once in the opposite direction, to return to the community and to share the

experienceoftheirencounterwiththerisenLord”.

129

238Variousmanifestationsofpopularpiety,especiallypilgrimages,attract

young people who do not readily feel at home in ecclesial structures, and

representaconcretesignoftheirtrustinGod.ThesewaysofseekingGodare

seenparticularlyinyoungpeoplewhoarepoor,butalsothoseinothersectorsof

society. They should not be looked down on, but encouraged and promoted.

Popularpiety“isalegitimatewayoflivingthefaith”

130

and“anexpressionof

thespontaneousmissionaryactivityofthePeopleofGod”.

131

ALWAYSMISSIONARIES

239HereIwouldpointoutthatitdoesn’ttakemuchtomakeyoungpeople

missionaries. Even those who are most frail, limited and troubled can be

missionaries in their own way, for goodness can always be shared, even if it

existsalongsidemanylimitations.Ayoungpersonwhomakesapilgrimageto

askOurLadyforhelp,andinvitesafriendorcompanionalong,bythatsingle

gestureisbeingagoodmissionary.Inseparablefroma“popular”youthministry

is an irrepressible “popular” missionary activity that breaks through our

customarymodelsandwaysofthinking.Letusaccompanyandencourageit,but

notpresumetooverlyregulateit.

240IfwecanhearwhattheSpiritissayingtous,wehavetorealizethat

youth ministry is always missionary. Young people are greatlyenriched when

they overcome their reticence and dare to visit homes, and in this way make

contactwithpeople’slives.Theylearnhowtolookbeyondtheirfamilyandtheir

groupoffriends,andtheygainabroadervisionoflife.Atthesametime,their

faithandtheirsenseofbeingpartoftheChurchgrowstronger.Youthmissions,

which usually take place during school holidays after a period of preparation,

can lead to a renewed experience of faith and even serious thoughts about a

vocation.

241 Young people can find new fields for mission in the most varied

settings.For example,sincethey arealready sofamiliarwithsocialnetworks,

theyshouldbeencouragedtofillthemwithGod,fraternityandcommitment.

ACCOMPANIMENTBYADULTS

242Youngpeopleneedtohavetheirfreedomrespected,yettheyalsoneed

to be accompanied. The family should be the first place of accompaniment.

YouthministrycanpresenttheidealoflifeinChristastheprocessofbuildinga

houseon rock(cf.Mt 7:24-25).Formost young people, thathouse,their life,

willbebuiltonmarriageandmarriedlove.Thatiswhyyouthministryandthe

pastoralcareoffamiliesshouldbecoordinatedandintegrated,withtheaimof

ensuringacontinuousandsuitableaccompanimentofthevocationalprocess.

243Thecommunityhasanimportantroleintheaccompanimentofyoung

people; it should feel collectively responsible for accepting, motivating,

encouraging and challenging them. All should regard young people with

understanding,appreciationandaffection,andavoidconstantlyjudgingthemor

demandingofthemaperfectionbeyondtheiryears.

244AttheSynod,“manypointedtotheshortageofqualifiedpeopledevoted

to accompaniment. Belief in the theological and pastoral value of listening

entails rethinking and renewing the ways that priestly ministry is ordinarily

exercised,andreviewing its priorities.TheSynod alsorecognizedthe need to

trainconsecratedpersonsandlaypeople,maleandfemale,toaccompanyyoung

people. The charism of listening that the Holy Spirit calls forth within the

communitiesmightalsoreceiveinstitutionalrecognitionasaformofecclesial

service”.

132

245 There is also a special need to accompany young men and women

showingleadershippotential,sothattheycanreceivetrainingandthenecessary

qualifications. The young people who met before the Synod called for

“programmes for the formation and continued development of young leaders.

Someyoungwomenfeelthatthereisalackofleadingfemalerolemodelswithin

theChurchandtheytoowishtogivetheirintellectualandprofessionalgiftsto

theChurch.Wealsobelievethatseminariansandreligiousshouldhaveaneven

greaterabilitytoaccompanyyoungleaders”.

133

246Thesameyoungpeopledescribedtousthequalitiestheyhopetofindin

a mentor, and they expressed this with much clarity. “The qualities of such a

mentorinclude:beingafaithfulChristianwhoengageswiththeChurchandthe

world; someone who constantly seeks holiness; someone who is a confidant

withoutjudging.Similarly,someonewhoactivelylistenstotheneedsofyoung

peopleand respondsinkind;someonedeeplylovingandself-aware;someone

whorecognizeshisorherlimitsandknowsthejoysandsorrowsofthespiritual

journey.Anespeciallyimportantqualityinmentorsistheacknowledgementof

theirownhumanity–thefactthattheyarehumanbeingswhomakemistakes:

not perfect people but forgiven sinners. Sometimes mentors are put on a

pedestal,andwhentheyfall,itmayhaveadevastatingimpactonyoungpeople’s

abilitytocontinuetoengagewiththeChurch. Mentorsshouldnotleadyoung

peopleaspassivefollowers,butwalkalongsidethem,allowingthemtobeactive

participantsinthejourney.Theyshouldrespectthefreedomthatcomeswitha

youngperson’sprocessofdiscernmentandequipthemwithtoolstodosowell.

A mentor should believe wholeheartedly in a young person’s ability to

participateinthelifeoftheChurch.Amentorshouldthereforenurturetheseeds

offaithinyoungpeople,withoutexpectingtoimmediatelyseethefruitsofthe

work of the Holy Spirit. Thisroleis not and cannot be limited to priestsand

consecratedlife,butthelaityshouldalsobeempoweredtotakeonsucharole.

Allsuchmentorsshouldbenefitfrombeingwell-formed,andengageinongoing

formation”.

134

247 The Church’s educational institutions are undoubtedly a communal

setting for accompaniment; they can offer guidance to many young people,

especially when they “seek to welcome all young people, regardless of their

religious choices, cultural origins and personal, family or social situations. In

thisway,theChurchmakesafundamentalcontributiontotheintegraleducation

of the young in various parts of the world”.

135

 They would curtail this role

undulyweretheytolaydownrigidcriteriaforstudentstoenterandremainin

them,sincetheywoulddeprivemanyyoungpeopleofanaccompanimentthat

couldhelpenrichtheirlives.

BacktoContents

CHAPTEREIGHT

Vocation

248Theword “vocation”canbe understood inabroad sense asacalling

fromGod,includingthecalltolife,thecalltofriendshipwithhim,thecallto

holiness,andsoforth.Thisishelpful,sinceitsituatesourwholelifeinrelation

totheGodwholovesus.Itmakesusrealizethatnothingistheresultofpure

chancebutthateverythinginourlivescanbecomeawayofrespondingtothe

Lord,whohasawonderfulplanforus.

249IntheExhortationGaudeteetExsultate,Ispokeaboutthevocationof

alltogrowandmatureforthegloryofGod;Iwanted“toreproposethecallto

holinessinapracticalwayforourowntime,withallitsrisks,challengesand

opportunities”.

136

TheSecondVaticanCouncilhelpedustorecognizeanewthis

calladdressedtoeachofus:“Allthefaithful,whatevertheirconditionorstate,

arecalledbytheLord,eachinhisorherownway,tothatperfectholinessby

whichtheFatherhimselfisperfect”.

137

GOD’SCALLTOFRIENDSHIP

250Thefirstthingweneedtodiscernanddiscoveristhis:Jesuswantstobe

afriendtoeveryyoungperson.Thisdiscernmentisthebasisofallelse.Inthe

risenLord’sdialoguewithSimonPeter,hisgreatquestionwas:“Simon,sonof

John,doyouloveme?”(Jn21:16).Inotherwords,doyoulovemeasafriend?

ThemissionthatPeterreceivedtoshepherdJesus’flockwillalwaysbelinkedto

thisgratuitouslove,thisloveoffriendship.

251Ontheotherhand,therewastheunsuccessfulencounterofJesusand

therichyoungman,whichclearlyshowsthattheyoungmanfailedtoperceive

the Lord’s loving gaze (cf. Mk 10:21). He went away sorrowful, despite his

original good intentions, because he could not turn his back on his many

possessions(cf.Mt19:22).Hemissedtheopportunityofwhatsurelywouldhave

been a great friendship. We will never know what that one young man, upon

whomJesusgazedwithloveandtowhomhestretchedouthishand,mighthave

beenforus,whathemighthavedoneformankind.

252“ThelifethatJesusgivesusisalovestory,alifehistorythatwantsto

blend with ours and sink roots in the soil of our own lives. That life is not

salvation up ‘in the cloud’ and waiting to be downloaded, a new ‘app’ to be

discovered, or a technique of mental self-improvement. Still less is that life a

‘tutorial’forfindingoutthelatestnews.ThesalvationthatGodoffersusisan

invitation to bepart of a love storyinterwovenwith ourpersonalstories;itis

aliveandwantstobeborninourmidstsothatwecanbearfruitjustasweare,

whereverweareandwitheveryoneallaroundus.TheLordcomestheretosow

andtobesown”.

138

BEINGTHEREFOROTHERS

253I wouldnow liketospeakofvocationinthestrictsense,asacallto

missionaryservicetoothers.TheLordcallsustoshareinhisworkofcreation

andtocontributetothecommongoodbyusingthegiftswehavereceived.

254Thismissionaryvocation thus has todowithservice. For our lifeon

earthreachesfullstaturewhenitbecomesanoffering.HereIwouldrepeatthat

“themissionofbeingintheheartofthepeopleisnotjustapartofmylifeora

badgeIcantakeoff;itisnotan‘extra’orjustanothermomentinlife.Instead,it

issomethingIcannotuprootfrommybeingwithoutdestroyingmyveryself.I

amamissiononthisearth;thatisthereasonwhyIamhereinthisworld”.

139

It

followsthateveryformofpastoralactivity,formationandspiritualityshouldbe

seeninthelightofourChristianvocation.

255Yourownpersonalvocationdoesnotconsistonlyintheworkyoudo,

thoughthatisanexpressionofit.Yourvocationissomethingmore:itisapath

guidingyourmanyeffortsandactionstowardsservicetoothers.Soindiscerning

your vocation, it is important to determine if you see in yourself the abilities

neededtoperformthatspecificservicetosociety.

256Thisgivesgreatervaluetoeverythingyoudo.Yourworkstopsbeing

just about making money, keeping busy or pleasing others. It becomes your

vocation because you are called to it; it is something more than merely a

pragmaticdecision.Intheend,itisarecognitionofwhyIwasmade,whyIam

hereonearth,andwhattheLord’splanisformylife.Hewillnotshowmeevery

place,timeanddetail,sinceIwillhavetomakemyownprudentdecisionsabout

these.Buthewillshowmeadirectioninlife,forheismyCreatorandIneedto

listentohisvoice,sothat,likeclayinthehandsofapotter,Icanletmyselfbe

shapedandguidedbyhim.ThenIwillbecomewhatIwasmeanttobe,faithful

tomyownreality.

257Torespondtoourvocation,weneedtofosteranddevelopallthatwe

are.Thishasnothingtodowithinventingourselvesorcreatingourselvesoutof

nothing.IthastodowithfindingourtrueselvesinthelightofGodandletting

ourlivesflourishandbearfruit.“InGod’splan,everymanandwomanismeant

toseekself-fulfilment,foreveryhumanlifeiscalledtosometaskbyGod”.

140

YourvocationinspiresyoutobringoutthebestinyourselfforthegloryofGod

andthegoodofothers.Itisnotsimplyamatterofdoingthings,butofdoing

themwith meaninganddirection.SaintAlberto Hurtadotold youngpeopleto

thinkveryseriouslyaboutthedirectiontheirlivesshouldtake:“Ifthehelmsman

of a ship becomes careless, he is fired straightaway for not taking his sacred

responsibilityseriously.Asforourlives,arewefullyawareofthecoursethey

aretaking?Whatcourseisyourlifetaking?Ifitisnecessarytogivethismore

thought, I would beg each one of you to give it the highest consideration,

becausetogetitrightistantamounttosuccess;toerrisquitesimplytofail”.

141

258Inthelifeofeachyoungperson,this“beingthereforothers”normally

hastodowithtwobasicissues:forminganewfamilyandworking.Surveysof

youngpeople repeatedlyconfirmthattheseare thetwo majorissuesworrying

themand,atthesametime,excitingthem.Bothmustbetheobjectofparticular

discernment.Letuslookbrieflyateachofthem.

LOVEANDFAMILY

259Youngpeopleintenselyfeelthecalltolove;theydreamofmeetingthe

rightpersonwithwhomtheycanformafamilyandbuildalifetogether.Thisis

undoubtedlyavocationwhichGodhimselfmakesknowntothemthroughtheir

feelings,desiresanddreams.IdweltmorefullyonthisthemeintheApostolic

Exhortation Amoris Laetitia. I would encourage all young people to read

especiallythefourthandfifthchaptersofthatExhortation.

260Iliketothinkthat“twoChristianswhomarryhaverecognizedthecall

oftheLordintheirownlovestory,thevocationtoformonefleshandonelife

from two, male and female.The Sacrament of Holy Matrimonyenvelops this

love in the grace of God; it roots it in God himself. By this gift, and by the

certaintyofthiscall,youcangoforwardwithassurance;youhave nothingto

fear;youcanfaceeverythingtogether!”

142

261Here, weneedtorememberthatGodcreatedusas sexualbeings. He

himself“createdsexuality,whichisamarvellousgifttohiscreatures”.

143

Within

thevocationtomarriageweshouldacknowledgeandappreciatethat“sexuality,

sex,isagiftfromGod.Itisnottaboo.ItisagiftfromGod,agifttheLordgives

us. It has two purposes: to love and to generate life. It is passion, passionate

love. True love is passionate. Love between a man and a woman, when it is

passionate, always leads to giving life. Always. To give life with body and

soul”.

144

262TheSynodinsistedthat“thefamilycontinuestobetheprincipalpoint

of reference for young people. Children appreciate the love and care of their

parents, they give importance to family bonds, and they hope to succeed in

formingafamilywhenitistheirtime.Withoutdoubt,theincreaseofseparation,

divorce,secondunionsandsingle-parentfamiliescancausegreatsufferinganda

crisisofidentityinyoungpeople.Sometimestheymusttakeonresponsibilities

thatarenotproportionedtotheirageandthatforcethemtobecomeadultsbefore

their time. Often, grandparents are a crucial aid in affection and religious

education: with their wisdom they are a vital link in the relationship between

generations”.

145

263 It is truethatthedifficulties they experience in theirownfamilycan

leadmanyyoungpeopletoaskwhetheritisworthwhiletostartanewfamily,to

be faithful, to be generous. I can tellyou that it certainly is. It is worth your

every effort to invest in the family; there you will find the best incentives to

mature and the greatest joys to experience and share. Don’t let yourselves be

robbedofagreatlove.Don’tletyourselvesbeledastraybythosewhoproposea

lifeoframpantindividualismthatintheendleadstoisolationandtheworstsort

ofloneliness.

264 Today, a culture of theephemeraldominates,but it is an illusion. To

think that nothing can be definitive is adeceptivelie.“Today, there are those

who say that marriage is out of fashion… In a culture of relativism and the

ephemeral,manypreachtheimportanceof‘enjoying’thepresentmoment.They

say that it is not worth making a lifelong commitment, making a definitive

decision…Iaskyou,instead,toberevolutionaries,Iaskyoutoswimagainstthe

tide;yes,I am askingyouto rebel againstthisculture that seeseverythingas

temporary and that ultimately believes you are incapable of responsibility,

incapable of true love”.

146

 I have great confidence in you, and for this very

reason,Iurgeyoutooptformarriage.

265 Marriage requires preparation, and this calls for growing in self-

knowledge,developingthegreatervirtues,particularlylove,patience,openness

todialogueandhelpingothers.Italsoinvolvesmaturinginyourownsexuality,

sothatitcanbecomelessandlessameansofusingothers,andincreasinglya

capacitytoentrustyourselffullytoanotherpersoninanexclusiveandgenerous

way.

266AsthebishopsofColombiahavetaught,“Christknowsthatspousesare

notperfectandthattheyneedtoovercometheirweaknessandlackofconstancy

sothattheir lovecan growandendure. Forthisreason, hegrantsspouses his

grace, which is at once light and the strength enabling them to achieve

progressivelytheiridealofmarriedlifeinaccordancewithGod’splan”.

147

267Forthosewhoarenotcalledtomarriageortheconsecratedlife,itmust

alwaysberememberedthatthefirstandmostimportantvocationisthevocation

we have received in baptism. Those whoaresingle, even if not by their own

choice,canofferaparticularwitnesstothatvocationthroughtheirownpathof

personalgrowth.

WORK

268 The bishops of the United States have pointed out that “young

adulthoodoftensignalsaperson’sentranceintotheworldofwork.‘Whatdoyou

doforaliving?’isaconstanttopicofconversationbecauseworkisamajorpart

of their lives. For young adults, this experience is highly fluid because they

movefromjobtojobandevenfromcareertocareer.Workcandictatetheiruse

of time and can determine what they can afford to do or buy. It can also

determinethequalityandquantityofleisuretime.Workdefinesandinfluencesa

youngadult’sidentityandself-conceptandisaprimeplacewherefriendships

and other relationships develop becausegenerally it is not donealone. Young

menandwomenspeakofworkasfulfillingafunctionandprovidingmeaning.

Work allows young adults to meet their practical needs but even more

importantly to seek meaning and fulfilment of their dreams and visions.

Although work may not help achieve their dreams, it is important for young

adultstonurtureavision,learnhowtoworkinatrulypersonalandlife-giving

way,andtocontinuetodiscernGod’scall”.

148

269Iaskyoungpeoplenottoexpecttolivewithoutworking,dependingon

others for help. This is not good, because “work is a necessity, part of the

meaningoflifeonthisearth,apathtogrowth,humandevelopmentandpersonal

fulfilment. In this sense, helping the poor financially must always be a

provisionalsolutioninthefaceofpressingneeds”.

149

Hence,“togetherwiththe

awe-filledcontemplation ofcreationwhichwefind inSaintFrancisofAssisi,

the Christian spiritual tradition has also developed a rich and balanced

understandingofthemeaning of work, as, forexample,in the life of Blessed

CharlesdeFoucauldandhisfollowers”.

150

270TheSynodnotedthatintheareaofwork,youngpeoplecan“experience

formsofexclusion andmarginalization,of which thefirst and mostserious is

youth unemployment, which in some countries reaches exorbitant levels.

Besides making them poor, the lack of work impacts negatively on young

people’scapacitytodreamandtohope,anditdeprivesthemofthepossibilityof

contributing to the development of society. In many countries, this situation

depends on the fact that some sectors of the young population lack adequate

professionalskills,perhapsbecause of deficiencies inthesystemof education

and training. Often job insecurity among the young is linked to economic

intereststhatexploitlabour”.

151

271Thisisahighlycomplexandsensitiveissuethatpoliticsmustmakea

priority,especiallyatpresent,whenthespeedoftechnologicaladvancesandthe

concerntoreducelabourcostscanleadquicklytothereplacementofmanyjobs

bymachines.Itisalsoacrucialsocietalissuebecauseemploymentforayoung

personisnotmerelyameansofmakingmoney.Workisanexpressionofhuman

dignity,apathofdevelopmentandofsocialinclusion.Itisaconstantstimulusto

growinresponsibilityandcreativity,aprotectionagainstthetendencytowards

individualismandpersonalgratification.Atthesametime,itisanopportunityto

giveglorytoGodbydevelopingone’sabilities.

272 Young people do notalways have the chance todecide what kind of

work they will do, or how their energies and talents will be spent. Because,

alongsidetheirownaspirations,abilitiesandchoices,thereistheharshrealityof

the job market. It is true that you cannot live without working, and that

sometimesyouhavetoacceptwhateverisavailable,butIaskyounevertogive

up on your dreams, never completely bury a calling,and neveracceptdefeat.

Keepseekingatleastpartialorimperfectwaystolivewhatyouhavediscerned

tobeyourrealcalling.

273WhenwediscoverthatGodiscallingustosomething,thatthisorthatis

what we were made for – whether it be nursing, carpentry, communication,

engineering,teaching,artoranyotherkindofwork–thenwewillbeableto

summonupourbestcapacitiesforsacrifice,generosityanddedication.Knowing

that we don’t do things just for the sake ofdoing them,but rather we endow

them with meaning, as a response to a call that resounds in the depth of our

beingtooffersomethingtoothers:thatiswhatmakestheseoccupationsbringa

senseofdeepfulfilment.AswereadintheancientbiblicalbookofEcclesiastes:

“Isawthatthereisnothingbetterthanthatamanshouldenjoyhiswork”(3:22).

THEVOCATIONTOSPECIALCONSECRATION

274 If we are indeed convinced that the Holy Spirit continues to inspire

vocationstothepriesthoodandthereligiouslife,wecan“oncemorecastoutthe

nets”intheLord’sname,withcompleteconfidence.Wecandare,asweshould,

totelleachyoungpersontoaskwhetherthisisthepaththattheyaremeantto

follow.

275Occasionally,Iwouldbringthisupwithyoungpeople,andtheywould

respondalmostjokingly:“No,that’snotforme!”Yet,afewyearslater,someof

themwereintheseminary.TheLordcannotfailinhispromisetoprovidethe

Churchwithshepherds,forwithoutthemshewouldnotbeabletoliveandcarry

outhermission.Ifitistruethatsomepriestsdonotgivegoodwitness,thatdoes

notmeanthattheLordstopscalling.Onthecontrary,hedoublesthestakes,for

heneverceasestocareforhisbelovedChurch.

276Indiscerningyourvocation,donotdismissthepossibilityofdevoting

yourself to God in the priesthood, the religious life or in other forms of

consecration.Whynot?Youcanbesurethat,ifyoudorecognizeandfollowa

callfromGod,thereyouwillfindcompletefulfilment.

277Jesusiswalkinginourmidst,ashedidinGalilee.Hewalksthroughour

streets,and hequietly stopsandlooksintooureyes.Hiscallisattractiveand

intriguing.Yettodaythestressandquickpaceofaworldconstantlybombarding

us with stimuli can leave no room for that interior silence in which we can

perceive Jesus’ gaze and hear his call. In the meantime, many attractively

packaged offerswill come your way. They may seem appealing and exciting,

althoughintimetheywillonlyleaveyoufeelingempty,wearyandalone.Don’t

letthishappentoyou,becausethemaelstromofthisworldcandriveyoutotake

a route without real meaning, withoutdirection, without clear goals, and thus

thwart many of your efforts. It is better to seek out that calm and quiet that

enableyoutoreflect,pray,lookmoreclearlyattheworldaroundyou,andthen,

withJesus,cometorecognizethevocationthatisyoursinthisworld.

BacktoContents

CHAPTERNINE
Discernment
278 In the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, I spoke in rather
general terms about discernment. I would now like to take up some of those
reflectionsandapplythemtothewaywediscernourownvocationintheworld.
279Imentionedtherethatallofus,but“especiallytheyoung,areimmersed
inacultureofzapping.Wecannavigatesimultaneouslyontwoormorescreens
and interact at the same time with two orthreevirtualscenarios. Without the
wisdomofdiscernment,wecaneasilybecomepreytoeverypassingtrend”.
152
Indeed,“thisisallthemoreimportantwhensomenoveltypresentsitselfinour
lives. Then we have to decide whether it is new wine brought by God or an
illusioncreatedbythespiritofthisworldorthespiritofthedevil”.
153
280Suchdiscernment,“eventhoughitincludesreasonandprudence,goes
beyondthem,foritseeksaglimpseofthatuniqueandmysteriousplanthatGod
hasforeachofus…IthastodowiththemeaningofmylifebeforetheFather
whoknowsandlovesme,andwiththerealpurposeofmylife,whichnobody
knowsbetterthanhe”.
154
281 Here we see the importance of the formation of conscience, which
allows discernment to grow in depth and in fidelity to God: “Forming our
conscience is the work of a lifetime, in which we learn to cultivate the very
sentiments of Jesus Christ, adopting the criteria behind his choices and the
intentionsbehindhisactions(cf.Phil2:5)”.
155
282Inthisprocessofformation,weletourselvesbetransformedbyChrist,
even as we develop “the habit of doing good, which also is a part of our
examinationofconscience.Wedonotsimplyidentifysins,butalsorecognize

God’sworkinourdailylives,intheeventsofourpersonalhistoryandtheworld

aroundus,andinthewitnessofallthosemenandwomenwhohavegonebefore

usoraccompanyuswiththeirwisdom.Thishelpsustogrowinthevirtueof

prudenceandtogiveanoveralldirectiontoourlifethroughconcretechoices,in

thesereneawarenessofbothourgiftsandourlimitations”.

156

DISCERNINGYOURVOCATION

283Aparticularformofdiscernmentinvolvestheefforttodiscoverourown

vocation.Sincethisisaverypersonaldecisionthatotherscannotmakeforus,it

requires a certain degree of solitude and silence. “TheLordspeaks to us in a

varietyof ways,atwork,throughothersandateverymoment.Yetwesimply

cannot do without thesilence of prolonged prayer, which enables usbetter to

perceive God’s language, to interpret the real meaning of the inspirations we

believe we have received, to calm our anxieties and to see the whole of our

existenceafreshinhisownlight”.

157

284 Yet this silence does not make us close in on ourselves. “We must

rememberthatprayerfuldiscernmenthastobebornofanopennesstolistening–

totheLordandtoothers,andtorealityitself,whichalwayschallengesusinnew

ways.Onlyifwearepreparedtolisten,dowehavethefreedomtosetasideour

own partial or insufficient ideas… In this way, we become truly open to

acceptingacallthatcanshatteroursecurity,butleadustoabetterlife.Itisnot

enoughthateverythingbecalmandpeaceful.Godmaybeofferingussomething

more,butinourcomfortableinadvertence,wedonotrecognizeit”.

158

285Whenseekingtodiscernourownvocation,therearecertainquestions

weoughttoask.Weshouldnotstartwithwonderingwherewecouldmakemore

money,orachievegreaterrecognitionandsocialstatus.Norevenbyaskingwhat

kindofworkwouldbemostpleasingtous.Ifwearenottogoastray,weneeda

differentstartingpoint.Weneedtoask:DoIknowmyself,quiteapartfrommy

illusionsandemotions?DoIknowwhatbringsjoyorsorrowtomyheart?What

are my strengths and weaknesses? These questions immediately give rise to

others:HowcanIservepeoplebetterandprovemosthelpfultoourworldandto

theChurch?Whatismyrealplaceinthisworld?WhatcanIoffertosociety?

Evenmorerealisticquestionsthenfollow:DoIhavetheabilitiesneededtooffer

thiskindofservice?CouldIdevelopthoseabilities?

286 These questions should be centred less on ourselves and our own

inclinations, but on others,so that our discernment leadsus to see ourlife in

relationtotheirlives. That is why I wouldremindyouof the most important

questionofall.“Soofteninlife,wewastetimeaskingourselves:‘WhoamI?’

Youcankeepasking,‘WhoamI?’fortherestofyourlives.Buttherealquestion

is:‘ForwhomamI?’”.

159

Ofcourse,youareforGod.Buthehasdecidedthat

youshouldalsobeforothers,andhehasgivenyoumanyqualities,inclinations,

giftsandcharismsthatarenotforyou,buttosharewiththosearoundyou.

THECALLOFJESUSOURFRIEND

287Todiscernourpersonalvocation,wehavetorealizethatitisacalling

froma friend,who isJesus.Whenwegivesomethingtoourfriends,wegive

themthebestwehave.Itwillnotnecessarilybewhatismostexpensiveorhard

toobtain,butwhatweknowwillmakethemhappy.Friendsaresosensitiveto

thisthattheycanalreadyimaginethesmileontheirfriend’sfacewhenheorshe

opensthatgift.ThissortofdiscernmentthattakesplaceamongfriendsiswhatI

suggestyoutakeasamodelfortryingtodiscoverGod’swillforyourlives.

288Iwantyoutoknowthat,whentheLordthinksofeachofyouandwhat

hewantstogiveyou,heseesyouashisclosefriend.Andifheplanstogrant

youagrace,acharismthatwillhelpyoulivetothefullandbecomesomeone

whobenefitsothers,someonewholeavesamarkinlife,itwillsurelybeagift

thatwillbringyoumorejoyandexcitementthananythingelseinthisworld.Not

becausethatgiftwill be rare orextraordinary,butbecauseit will perfectly fit

you.Itwillbeaperfectfitforyourentirelife.

289 A vocation, while a gift, will undoubtedly also be demanding. God’s

gifts are interactive; to enjoy them we have to be ready to take risks. Yet the

demandstheymakearenotanobligationimposedfromwithout,butanincentive

toletthatgiftgrowanddevelop,andthenbecomeagiftforothers.Whenthe

Lordawakensavocation,hethinksnotonlyofwhatyoualreadyare,butofwhat

youwillonedaybe,inhiscompanyandinthatofothers.

290Sheervitalityandstrengthofpersonalitycombineintheheartsofyoung

peopletomakethemconstantlyaimhigher.Thisexuberancewillbetempered

bytimeandpainfulexperiences,butitisimportantfor“thisyouthfulandstill

untestedyearningfortheinfinite”

160

toencountertheunconditionalfriendship

thatJesusoffersus.Morethanrulesandobligations,thechoicethatJesussets

beforeus istofollow himas friendsfollowoneanother, seekingeach other’s

companyandspendingtimetogetheroutofpurefriendship.Everythingelsewill

comeintime,andevenfailuresinlifecanbeaninvaluablewayofexperiencing

thatfriendship,whichwillneverbelost.

LISTENINGANDACCOMPANIMENT

291Therearemanypriests,menandwomenreligious,layandprofessional

persons,andindeedqualifiedyoungpeople,whocanhelptheyoungwiththeir

vocational discernment. When we arecalled upon to help othersdiscern their

pathinlife,whatisuppermostistheabilitytolisten.Listeningcallsforthree

distinctandcomplementarykindsofsensitivity.

292Thefirstkindofsensitivityisdirectedtotheindividual.Itisamatterof

listeningtosomeonewhoissharinghisveryselfinwhathesays.Asignofthis

willingnesstolistenisthetimewearereadytospareforothers.Morethanthe

amountoftime wespend,it isaboutmaking othersfeelthat mytimeis their

time,thattheyhaveallthetimetheyneedtosayeverythingtheywant.Theother

personmustsensethatIamlisteningunconditionally,withoutbeingoffendedor

shocked,tiredorbored.WeseeanexampleofthiskindoflisteningintheLord;

hewalksalongsidethedisciplesonthewaytoEmmaus,eventhoughtheyare

goinginthewrongdirection(cf.Lk24:13-35).WhenJesussaysheplanstogo

farther,theyrealizethathehasgiventhemthegiftofhistime,sotheydecideto

givehimtheirsbyofferingtheirhospitality.Attentiveandselflesslisteningisa

signofourrespectforothers,whatevertheirideasortheirchoicesinlife.

293Thesecondkindofsensitivityismarkedbydiscernment.Ittriestograsp

exactlywheregraceortemptationispresent,forsometimesthethingsthatflit

acrossourmindsaremeretemptationsthatcandistractusfromourtruepath.I

needtoaskmyselfwhatisitthattheotherpersonistryingtotellme,whatthey

wantmetorealizeishappeningintheirlives.Askingsuchquestionshelpsme

appreciatetheir thinkingandtheeffectsithas ontheir emotions.Thiskindof

listening seeks to discern the salutary promptings of the good Spirit who

proposes to us the Lord’s truth, but also thetrapslaid by the evil spirit – his

empty works and promises. It takes courage, warmth and tact to help others

distinguishthetruthfromillusionsorexcuses.

294Thethirdkindofsensitivityistheabilitytoperceivewhatisdrivingthe

otherperson.This calls foradeeper kind oflistening,one able todiscernthe

directioninwhich thatpersontruly wants tomove.Apart fromwhatthey are

feelingorthinkingrightnow,andwhateverhashappeneduptothispointintheir

lives,therealissueiswhattheywouldliketobe.Thismaydemandthatthey

looknottotheirownsuperficialwishesanddesires,butrathertowhatismost

pleasing to the Lord, to his plans for their life. And that is seen in a deeper

inclinationoftheheart,beyondthesurfaceleveloftheirlikesandfeelings.This

kind of listening seeks to discern their ultimate intention, the intention that

definitivelydecidesthemeaningoftheirlife.Jesusknowsandappreciatesthis

ultimateintentionoftheheart.Heisalwaysthere,readytohelpeachofusto

recognizeit.Weneedbutsaytohim:“Lord,saveme!Havemercyonme!”

295Inthisway,discernmentbecomesagenuinemeansofspiritualcombat,

helping us to follow the Lord more faithfully.

161

 The desire to know our

personal vocation thus takes on a supreme intensity, a different quality and

higherlevel,onethatbetterrespectsthedignityofourpersonandourlife.Inthe

end, good discernment is a path of freedom that brings to full fruit what is

unique in each person, something so personal that only Godknowsit.Others

cannotfullyunderstandorpredictfromtheoutsidehowitwilldevelop.

296Whenwelistentoothersinthisway,atacertainmomentweourselves

havetodisappearinordertolettheotherpersonfollowthepathheorshehas

discovered.WehavetovanishastheLorddidfromthesightofhisdisciplesin

Emmaus,leavingthemalonewithburningheartsandanirresistibledesiretoset

outimmediately(cf.Lk24:31-33).Whentheyreturnedtothecommunity,those

disciplesheardthegoodnewsthattheLordwasindeedrisen(cf.Lk24:34).

297 Because “time is greater than space”,

162

 we need to encourage and

accompanyprocesses,withoutimposingourownroadmaps.Forthoseprocesses

havetodowithpersonswhoremainalwaysuniqueandfree.Therearenoeasy

recipes,evenwhenallthesignsseempositive,since“positivefactorsthemselves

need to be subjected to a careful work of discernment, so that they do not

become isolated and contradict one another, becoming absolutes and at odds

withoneanother.Thesameistrueforthenegativefactors,whicharenottobe

rejected en bloc and without distinction, because in each one there may lie

hiddensomevaluewhichawaitsliberationandrestorationtoitsfulltruth”.

163

298Ifyouare to accompanyotherson this path, youmustbethe first to

followit,dayinanddayout.ThatiswhatMarydid,inherownyouth,asshe

confrontedherownquestionsanddifficulties.Maysherenewyouryouthfulness

by the power of her prayers and accompany you always by her maternal

presence.

***

ANDTOCONCLUDE…AWISH

299Dearyoungpeople,myjoyfulhopeistoseeyoukeeprunningtherace

before you, outstripping all those who are slow or fearful. Keep running,

“attractedbythefaceofChrist,whomwelovesomuch,whomweadoreinthe

Holy Eucharist and acknowledge in the flesh of our suffering brothers and

sisters.MaytheHolySpiriturgeyouonasyourunthisrace.TheChurchneeds

your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you

arrivewherewehavenotyetreached,havethepatiencetowaitforus”.

164



GiveninLoreto,attheShrineoftheHolyHouse,on25March,Solemnityof

theAnnunciationoftheLord,intheyear2019,theseventhofmyPontificate.

FRANCISCUS

BacktoContents


Notes
1
TheGreekwordusuallytranslated“new”canalsomean“young”.
2
Confessions,X,27:PL32,795.
3
SAINTIRENAEUS,AdversusHæreses,II,22,4:PG7,784.
4
FinalDocumentoftheFifteenthOrdinaryGeneralAssemblyoftheSynodofBishops,60.Hereafter
citedasFD.Thedocumentcanbefoundat:FDwww.vatican.va.
5
CatechismoftheCatholicChurch,515.
6
Ibid.,517.
7
Catechesis(27June1990),2-3:Insegnamenti13,1(1990),1680-1681.
8
Post-SynodalApostolicExhortationAmorisLaetitia(19March2016),182:AAS108(2016),384.
9
FD63.
10
SECONDVATICANECUMENICALCOUNCIL,MessagetoYoungMenandWomen(8December
1965):AAS58(1966),18.
11
Ibid.
12
FD1
13
Ibid.,8.
14
Ibid.,50.
15
Ibid.,53

16
Cf.SECONDVATICANECUMENICALCOUNCIL,DogmaticConstitutiononDivineRevelation
DeiVerbum,8.
17
FD150.
18
Addressat the Vigil with Young People, XXXIV World Youth Day in Panama(26 January 2019):
L’OsservatoreRomano,28-29January2019,6.
19
PrayerattheConclusionoftheWayoftheCross,XXXIVWorldYouthDayinPanama(26January
2019):L’OsservatoreRomano,27January2019,12.
20
FD65.
21
Ibid.,167.
22
SAINTJOHNPAULII,Addressto Young Peoplein Turin(13April1980),4: Insegnamenti3, 1
(1980),905.
23
BENEDICTXVI,MessagefortheXXVIIWorldYouthDay(15March2012):AAS194(2012),359.
24
FD8.
25
Ibid.
26
Ibid.,10.
27
Ibid.,11.
28
Ibid.,12.
29
Ibid.,41.
30
Ibid.,42.
31
AddresstoYoungPeopleinManila(18January2015):L’OsservatoreRomano,19-20January2015,
7.
32
FD34.
33
DocumentofthePre-SynodalMeetinginPreparationfortheXVOrdinaryGeneralAssemblyofthe
SynodofBishops,Rome(24March2018),I,1.
34
FD39.
35
Ibid.,37.

36
Cf.EncyclicalLetterLaudatoSi’(24May2015),106:AAS107(2015),889-890.
37
FD37.
38
Ibid.,67.
39
Ibid.,21.
40
Ibid.,22.
41
Ibid.,23.
42
Ibid.,24.
43
DocumentofthePre-SynodalMeetinginPreparationfortheXVOrdinaryGeneralAssemblyofthe
SynodofBishops,Rome(24March2018),I,4.
44
FD25.
45
Ibid.
46
Ibid.,26.
47
Ibid.,27.
48
Ibid.,28.
49
Ibid.,29.
50
AddressattheConclusionoftheMeetingontheProtectionofMinorsintheChurch(24February
2019):L’OsservatoreRomano,25-26February2019,10.
51
FD29.
52
LettertothePeopleofGod(20August2018),2:L’OsservatoreRomano,21-21August2018,7.
53
FD30.
54
AddressattheOpeningoftheXVOrdinaryGeneralAssemblyoftheSynodofBishops(3October
2018):L’OsservatoreRomano,5October2018,8.
55
FD31.
56
Ibid.

57
 SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the
ModernWorldGaudiumetSpes,1.
58
FD31.
59
Ibid.
60
AddressattheConclusionoftheMeetingontheProtectionofMinorsintheChurch(24February
2019):L’OsservatoreRomano,25-26February2019,11.
61
FRANCISCOLUISBERNÁRDEZ,“Soneto”,inCielodetierra,BuenosAires,1937.
62
ApostolicExhortationGaudeteetExsultate(19March2018),140.
63
HomilyatMass,XXXIWorldYouthDayinKrakow(31July2016):AAS108(2016),963.
64
AddressattheOpeningoftheXXXIVWorldYouthDayinPanama(24January2019):L’Osservatore
Romano,26January2019,12.
65
ApostolicExhortationEvangeliiGaudium(24November2013),1:AAS105(2013),1019.
66
Ibid.,3:AAS105(2013),1020.
67
Addressat the Vigil with Young People, XXXIV World Youth Day in Panama(26 January 2019):
L’OsservatoreRomano,28-29January2019,6.
68
 Address at the Meeting with Young People during the Synod (6 October 2018): L’Osservatore
Romano,8-9October2018,7.
69
BENEDICTXVI,EncyclicalLetterDeusCaritasEst(25December2005),1:AAS98(2006),217.
70
PEDROARRUPE,Enamórate.
71
SAINTPAULVI,Addressfor the Beatification of NunzioSulprizio(1December1963):AAS 56
(1964),28.
72
FD65.
73
HomilyatMasswithYoungPeopleinSydney(2December1970):AAS63(1971),64.
74
Confessions,I,1,1:PL32,661.
75
GodisYoung.AConversationwithThomasLeoncini,NewYork,RandomHouse,2018,4.

76
FD68.
77
MeetingwithYoungPeopleinCagliari(22September2013):AAS105(2013),904-905.
78
FiveLoavesandTwoFish,PaulineBooksandMedia,2003,pp.9,13.
79
 CONFÉRENCE DES ÉVÊQUES SUISSES, Prendre le temps: pour toi, pour moi, pour nous,2
February2018.
80
Cf.SAINTTHOMASAQUINAS,SummaTheologiae,II-II,q.23,art.1.
81
 Address to the Volunteers of the XXXIV World Youth Day in Panama (27 January 2019):
L’OsservatoreRomano,28-29January2019,11.
82
 SAINT OSCAR ROMERO,Homily (6 November 1977), in Su Pensamiento, I-II, San Salvador,
2000,p.312.
83
AddressattheOpeningoftheXXXIVWorldYouthDayinPanama(24January2019):L’Osservatore
Romano,26January2019,12.
84
Cf. Meeting with Young People in the National Shrine of Maipú, Santiago de Chile (17 January
2018):L’OsservatoreRomano,19January2018,7.
85
 Cf. ROMANO GUARDINI, Die Lebensalter. Ihre ethische und pädagogische Bedeutung,
Würzburg,3rded.,1955,20.
86
ApostolicExhortationGaudeteetExsultate(19March2018),11.
87
SpiritualCanticle,Red.B,Prologue,2.
88
Ibid.,XIV-XV,2.
89
 EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF RWANDA, Letter of the Catholic Bishops of Rwanda for
ChristiansintheExtraordinaryYearofReconciliation,Kigali(18January2018),17.
90
Greeting to Young People of the Father Félix Varela Cultural Centre in Havana (20 September
2015):L’OsservatoreRomano,21-22September2015,6.
91
FD46.
92
Address at the Vigil of the XXVIII World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro (27 July2013): AAS105
(2013),663.
93
Ustedessonlaluzdelmundo.AddressinCerroSanCristóbal,Chile,1940.Thetextcanbefoundat:
www.padrealbertohurtado.cl.

94
HomilyatMass,XXVIIIWorldYouthDayinRiodeJaneiro(28July2013):AAS105(2013),665.
95
CATHOLICBISHOPS’CONFERENCEOFKOREA,PastoralLetterontheoccasionofthe150th
AnniversaryoftheMartyrdomduringtheByeong-inPersecution(30March2016).
96
Cf.HomilyatMass,XXXIVWorldYouthDayinPanama(27January2018):L’OsservatoreRomano,
28-29January2019,12.
97
“Lord,makemeachannelofyourpeace”,prayerinspiredbySaintFrancisofAssisi.
98
AddressattheVigil,XXIVWorldYouthDayinPanama,(26January2019):L’OsservatoreRomano,
28-29January2019,6.
99
FD14.
100
Cf.EncyclicalLetterLaudatoSi’(24May2015),145:AAS107(2015),906.
101
Video Messsage for the World Meeting of Indigenous Youth in Panama (17-21 January 2019):
L’OsservatoreRomano,19January2019,8.
102
FD35.
103
Cf.AdAdolescentes,I,2:PG31,565.
104
Cf.POPEFRANCISANDFRIENDS,SharingtheWisdomofTime,Chicago,LoyolaPress,2018.
105
Ibid.,12.
106
Ibid.,13.
107
Ibid.
108
Ibid.
109
Ibid.,162-163.
110
EDUARDOPIRONIO,MessagetoYoungArgentiniansattheNationalYouthMeetinginCordoba,
(12-15September1985),2.
111
FD123.
112
DasWesendesChristentums.DieneueWirklichkeitdesHerrn,Mainz,7
th
ed.,1991,14.
113
No.165:AAS105(2013),1089.

114
Address at the Visit to the Good Samaritan Home, Panama, (27 January 2019): L’Osservatore
Romano,28-29January2019,10.
115
FD36.
116
Cf.ApostolicConstitutionVeritatisGaudium(8December2017),4:AAS110(2018),7-8.
117
Address at the Meeting with Students and Representatives of the Academic World in Piazza San
Domenico,Bologna(1October2017):AAS109(2017),1115.
118
FD51.
119
Ibid.,47.
120
Sermo256,3:PL38,1193.
121
FD47.
122
AddresstoaDelegationoftheInternationalSpecialOlympics(16February2017):L’Osservatore
Romano,17February2017,8.
123
AdAdolescentes,VIII,11-12:PG31,580.
124
EPISCOPALCONFERENCEOFARGENTINA,DeclaracióndeSanMiguel,BuenosAires,1969,
X,1.
125
RAFAELTELLO,Lanuevaevangelización,II(AppendicesIandII),BuenosAires,2013,111.
126
Cf.ApostolicExhortationEvangeliiGaudium(24November2013),44-45:AAS105(2013),1038-
1039.
127
FD70.
128
Ibid.,117.
129
Ibid.,4.
130
ApostolicExhortationEvangeliiGaudium(24November2013),124:AAS105(2013),1072.
131
Ibid.,No.122,1071.
132
FD9.
133
Document of the Pre-Synodal Meeting for the Preparation of the XV Ordinary Assembly of the

SynodofBishops,Rome(24March2018),12.
134
Ibid.,10.
135
FD15.
136
ApostolicExhortationGaudeteetExsultate(19March2018),2.
137
DogmaticConstitutionontheChurchLumenGentium,11.
138
 Address at the Vigil, XXXIV World Youth Day in Panama (26 January 2019): L’Osservatore
Romano,28-29January2019,6.
139
ApostolicExhortationEvangeliiGaudium(24November2013),273:AAS105(2013),1130.
140
SAINTPAULVI,EncyclicalLetterPopulorumProgressio(26March1967),15:AAS59(1967),
265.
141
MeditacióndeSemanaSantaparajóvenes,writtenaboardacargoshipreturningfromtheUnited
Statesin1946(www.padrealbertohurtado.cl).
142
MeetingwiththeYoungPeopleofUmbriainAssisi(4October2013):105(2013),921.
143
Post-SynodalApostolicExhortationAmorisLaetitia(19March2016),150:AAS108(2016),369.
144
AddresstoYoungPeoplefromtheDioceseofGrenoble-Vienne(17September2018):L’Osservatore
Romano,19September2018,8.
145
FD32.
146
MeetingwithVolunteers,XXVIIIWorldYouthDayinRiodeJaneiro(28July2013):Insegnamenti
1,2(2013),125.
147
EPISCOPALCONFERENCEOFCOLOMBIA,MensajeCristianosobreelmatrimonio(14May
1981).
148
UNITEDSTATESCONFERENCEOFCATHOLICBISHOPS, Sons and Daughters of Light: A
PastoralPlanforMinistrywithYoungAdults,November12,1996,PartOne,3.
149
EncyclicalLetterLaudatoSi’(24May2015),128:AAS107(2015),898.
150
Ibid.,125:AAS107(2015),897.
151
FD40.

152
ApostolicExhortationGaudeteetExsultate(19March2018),167.
153
Ibid.,168.
154
Ibid.,170.
155
FD108.
156
Ibid.
157
ApostolicExhortationGaudeteetExsultate(19March2018),171.
158
Ibid.,172.
159
AddressofPopeFrancisatthePrayerVigilinPreparationfortheXXXIVWorldYouthDay,Papal
BasilicaofSaintMaryMajor(8April2017):AAS109(2017),447.
160
ROMANOGUARDINI,Die Lebensalter.IhreethischeundpädagogischeBedeutung, Würzburg,
3rded.,1955,20.
161
Cf.ApostolicExhortationGaudeteetExsultate(19March2018),169.
162
ApostolicExhortationEvangeliiGaudium(24November2013),222:AAS105(2013),1111.
163
 SAINT JOHN PAUL II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis (25 March
1992),10:AAS84(1992),672.
164
PrayerVigilwithYoungItaliansattheCircusMaximusinRome(11August2018):L’Osservatore
Romano,13-14August2018,6.

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