杏MAP导航 makes telephone call to young Italians on pilgrimage
鈥淟ife is a journey. Always move forward, seeking happiness for yourselves and for others.鈥� That was 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� message to the young people participating in the annual Macerata-Loreto Night March pilgrimage that took place in the Italian towns on Saturday evening.
The event saw tens of thousands of young pilgrims walk 28 kilometers at night through the hills in the Italian 鈥淟e Marche鈥� region from Macerata to the House of Loreto.
鈥榊ou can't stand still in life鈥�
"[You are] brave young people who set out on your way ... It鈥檚 a good sign,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, "because in life one cannot remain still 鈥� because a young person who stands still is like a retiree at the age of 20, and this is a bad thing." Youth, he said, is to be lived well, 鈥渟o go out and bear fruit.鈥�
鈥楬appiness is loving and letting oneself be loved鈥�
"Happiness鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said 鈥渋s not something you buy at the supermarket. Happiness comes only in loving and letting oneself be loved, that is, loving others. Wars do not give you happiness; enmities do not make you happy; gossip does not make you happy.鈥�
"Love and service to one another is the path to happiness.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 invited them to "always go forward, looking at the horizon, taking life one step at a time.鈥�
Thanksgiving for school year
The annual Macerata-Loreto Night March began in 1978, as an idea by Fr. Giancarlo Vecerrica, now bishop emeritus of Fabriano-Matelica. He started the pilgrimage as a way for Italian students to give thanks to Our Lady in Loreto at the end of the school year.
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