Pope urges young people to be a ‘sign for peace’ in the world and unafraid
Francis closed the 37th World Youth Day with a final Mass, on Transfiguration Sunday, calling on young people to have "courage" and work for an end to conflicts, starting with the one in “dear Ukraine", which “continues to suffer a lot”. In his thanks (obrigado), he singled out grandparents for their faith and Saint John Paul II for establishing WYD. In his homily, the pontiff urged believers to "shine, listen and be unafraid” by following the example of Christ.
Lisbon (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis celebrated the final Mass of the 37th World Youth Day (2-6 August), on the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord, at Parque Tejo, Lisbon, in the presence of local authorities, cardinals, bishops, priests and a huge crowd of faithful, of every age (which yesterday evening topped a million and a half).
In his homily, the pontiff said that Jesus knows “the heart of each one of you" and today he tells you, "be not afraid, be not afraid, take heart.”
Francis mentioned Saint John Paul II in both his homily and Angelus message, thanking him "obrigado" (in Portuguese) for establishing World Youth Day. Likewise, he extended his thanks (obrigado) to young people, government authorities, Church leaders, volunteers, and the city of Lisbon, which young people will remember “as a house of brotherhood and city of dreams".
Young people, Francis went on to say are a "sign for peace in the world", saluting those who were unable to make the journey because of war and conflict. His thoughts once again turned to "dear Ukraine”, which “continues to suffer a lot”. For him, it is up to young people “of every nationality” to "build peace" together with Mary Queen of Peace and Jesus.
The pope reserved one final "obrigado" to grandparents who "passed on the faith to us" who, together with the WYD, "point to the horizon of life”. The WYD constitutes a "seed" that must be remembered and cherished so that one can be prepared for "hard days", while remembering can boost "experience and grace”
Marked by an event that brought "so much joy to the heart," the pope asked those present, young and old, what gifts they will bring "upon their return to the valley of daily life?" In answering his own question, Francis cited the Apostle Peter on the Mount of the Transfiguration, mentioning three verbs: “to shine, to listen, and to be unafraid.”
Christ, he said, “knows you; he knows what is in your heart;” he loves and walks by your side; for this reason, every "fear" can be overcome.
Explaining the meaning of the verb to shine, the pope extolled the transfiguration of Jesus. “His face shines like the sun" after his passion and death on the cross, "shattering" the image of a powerful and worldly Messiah.
Jesus takes "Peter, James and John, and leads them up the mountain where he is transfigured". We, too, need "some dazzling light" and "hope" to face the darkness of the night, Francis noted, this time speaking off the cuff after putting away his prepared text, something he did a few times during the WYD,
To the crowd, he said: "God has enlightened our eyes, our hearts, our minds, our desire to do something in life.” This is why, enlightened by Christ, we too "are transfigured" and “radiant” young people have the task of bringing the light of the Gospel everywhere.
Being radiant does not mean being in the spotlight, showing off a perfect image; it means learning "to love like Him", when we live a life that takes risks for love:
Be aware, the pope warned, “We shall become light when we do works of love,” while “when we look at each other selfishly, the light goes out".
The second verb is “to listen”, a verb that indicates what must be done in a Christian life.
"Jesus and our heart must be listened to" because "they teach the path of love. With good will, we make paths of love,” but then “selfishness disguised as love" emerges. This is why only Christ knows how to show the "path" and why we must "listen to Jesus".
"Shine, listen and, finally, be unafraid,” Pope Francis said, citing Jesus when he tried to encourage his frightened disciples.
In the last part of the homily, the pontiff spoke again without his prepared text, to remind people that they have lived a form of “glory”.
“As young people you have great dreams,” Francis explained. “Sometimes you can think that you are not up to the challenge, and you may be tempted to lose heart, to think you fall short, or to disguise your pain with a smile.
“As young people, you want to change the world and work for justice and peace.” The Church of the world needs you young people for “your energy and creativity [. . .] as much as the Earth needs rain. Jesus now speaks to you, dear young people, who are the present and the future of our world. To all of you, he says: ‘Do not be afraid!’”
At last evening's vigil, the pontiff talked about the meaning of life; “joy is missionary,” he said, and must be brought to others, thanks to people who are "rays of light" like parents and grandparents, priests and nuns, catechists, youth leaders and teachers.
Everyone should “think of those who have given us something in life, who are like the roots of our joy”. Indeed, “we have roots of joy’” and “we too can be roots of joy for others”.
Such joy is “not to be found in a locked library, even though study[ing] is necessary!” it “has to be found in dialogue with others, [. . .]. And this, at times, is tiring.”
The vigil took place in the presence of local authorities as well as pilgrims, local parish groups and young people from all over the world, families and parents with small children, and seniors. Everyone listened attentively to the Pope's words and took part in silence and prayer in the moment of adoration, which was followed by songs and more.
The pope spoke about being "tired," of letting go, of stop walking and falling. In his view, this is not a “failure”; instead, one must "get back up", as the Alpini (Italian Alpine troops) say in their songs. “In the art of climbing the mountain, what matters isn’t not to fall, but not to remain fallen. This is beautiful!”
“Those who remain fallen have already withdrawn from life, have shut down [. . .]. And when we see any friends of ours who have fallen, what are we to do? Lift them up.” That is “the only time that we are allowed to look down upon others when we are offering to help them up.”
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24/10/2019 17:56
