杏MAP导航

鈥淭oday is Children鈥檚 Day in Romania 鈥� let鈥檚 greet them with a round of applause.鈥� Those were the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 words to young people and families on Saturday who had gathered for a Marian encounter with him against the backdrop of the Palace of Culture.
He invited everyone present to pray for all children 鈥渁sking the Blessed Virgin to shelter them under her mantle.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 told the children, young people, families and elderly in the Square in Iasi, who had come from different traditions and places, that 鈥渢he Holy Spirit has called us here and He helps us discover the beauty of being together, of being able to meet and journey together.鈥� 鈥淭his is the experience of a new Pentecost鈥�, he said.

Dreams and wisdom of older generation

Journeying together, 杏MAP导航 Francis pointed out, is not easy. He added, 鈥渋t is a gift that we have to ask for. A work of art for us to create, a beautiful gift for us to hand on.鈥�
Recalling the testimony of Elisabeta and Ioan, an elderly couple participating at the Marian event, he told them that, 鈥渓ove took root in the two of you and it has borne rich fruit. Both of you were not afraid to dream鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said.
杏MAP导航 Francis also told the younger generation present that, 鈥渨hen you grow up, do not forget your mother and your grandmother, and the simple but robust faith that gave them strength.鈥�

Love and faith

Faith, he emphasized, 鈥渋s a gift that keeps alive a profound and beautiful certainty: that we are God鈥檚 beloved children鈥� Faith is not transmitted only by words, but also by gestures, looks and caresses, like those of our mothers and grandmothers.鈥�
鈥淲e all flourish when we feel loved鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淏ecause love draws us out of ourselves and invites us to take root in the lives of others.鈥� 鈥淲hen people lose all their love, then it will truly be the end of the world. Because without love and without God, no one can live on the earth!鈥�

Challenges, vocation and freedom

There will always be challenges in our lives, noted 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淲e cannot deny it or pretend that it isn鈥檛 the case鈥�. 鈥淭he Lord is the first to challenge us. The Lord is the one who gives us a song more powerful than all the siren songs that would paralyze us on our journey. And He always does it the same way: by singing a more beautiful and challenging song.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 also told those gathered that, 鈥渢he Lord gives us a vocation, a challenge to discover the talents and abilities we possess and to put them at the service of others.鈥� 鈥淗e asks us to use our freedom as a freedom to choose, to say yes to a loving plan, to a face, to a look.鈥�

鈥淭oday, from this place, new paths can open up to the future, towards Europe and many other parts of the world鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淵ou can be pilgrims of the twenty-first century, capable of imagining afresh the bonds that unite us.鈥�

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 said that 鈥淢ary is a Mother who encourages her children鈥檚 dreams, who cherishes their hopes, who brings joy to their homes鈥�You are that living, flourishing and hope-filled community that we can offer to our Mother.鈥�