杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

Speaking during his homily at an open-air Mass in St. Peter鈥檚 Square that inaugurated the 3-week Synod on 鈥淵oung People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis called on his brother bishops to heed the voices of young people in the effort to build a better world than that of their elders.  

He expressed his confidence in the new generations that, he said, 鈥渁re capable of prophesy and vision鈥� and prayed that the Holy Spirit may grant synodal Fathers the grace of being anointed with the youthful 鈥済ift of dreaming and of hoping.鈥�

Bishops from across the world, including China

It is with an attitude of docile listening to the voice of the Spirit, he said, that 鈥渨e have gathered from all parts of the world鈥�.  He remarked on the fact that for the first time, at the Synod, there are two bishops from mainland China and that 鈥渢he communion of the entire Episcopate with the Successor of Peter is yet more visible thanks to their presence鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 expressed his hope that the ecclesial meeting will help broaden the horizons, expand hearts and 鈥渢ransform those frames of mind that today paralyze, separate and alienate us from young people鈥� leaving them, he said, 鈥渆xposed to stormy seas, orphans without a faith community that should sustain them, orphans devoid of a sense of direction and meaning in life鈥�.

But, he said, hope challenges and moves us, shattering that conformism which says, 鈥渋t鈥檚 always been done like this鈥�.

鈥淗ope asks us to get up and look directly into the eyes of young people and see their situations鈥� he said.

Francis said that today, young people are calling us 鈥渢o join them in facing the present with greater commitment and to work against whatever prevents their lives from growing in a dignified way鈥�.

Young people ask us not to leave them alone

He said they demand from us creativity, dynamism, intelligence, enthusiasm and hope. They ask us, he continued 鈥�not to leave them alone in the hands of so many pedlars of death who oppress their lives and darken their vision鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 reminded his fellow bishops and priests that they are called to be humble and without prejudice as they look to the interests of others: 鈥淚n this spirit we will try to listen to one another, in order to discern together what the Lord is asking of his Church.鈥�

Love for the Gospel, he continued, and for the people who have been entrusted to us, challenges us 鈥渢o broaden our horizons and not lose sight of the mission to which we are called鈥�.

鈥淢ay the Spirit give us the grace to be a memory that is diligent, living and effective, that does not allow itself from one generation to the next to be extinguished or crushed by the prophets of doom and misfortune, by our own shortcomings, mistakes and sins鈥� he said. 

Council Fathers and 杏MAP导航 Paul VI

The 杏MAP导航 concluded recalling the message of Council Fathers at the end of the Second Vatican Council when the Synod of Bishops was established.

It was a message, he said, that urged the Church to 鈥渞ejuvenate her image鈥� in order to respond better to the design of Christ. And he concluded quoting 杏MAP导航 Paul VI鈥檚 1965 address to young men and women of the world: 鈥渋t is in His name that today we exhort you to open your hearts to the dimensions of the world, to heed the appeal of your brothers, to place your youthful energies at their service. Fight against all egoism. Refuse to give free course to the instincts of violence and hatred which beget wars and all their train of miseries. Be generous, pure, respectful and sincere, and build in enthusiasm a better world than your elders had.鈥�