杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� last event in Ko拧ice was a meeting with young people in the city鈥檚 Lokomotiva Stadium, where Blessed Anna Kolesarova was beatified in 2018.

杏MAP导航 Francis began his by answering three questions he was asked by some of the young people present. "I would like to try to come up with some answers to them," said the 杏MAP导航.

Answering Peter and Zuzka鈥檚 question about love between two people, the 杏MAP导航 noted that 鈥渓ike all great things in life, love is magnificent, but not easy.鈥� "It is our greatest dream," he said, though it is 鈥渘ot easy to explain鈥�. He said that the right approach is to look with 鈥渘ew eyes鈥�, eyes that are not taken in by appearances and that do not trivialize love. 鈥淏ecause love is not simply an emotion or feeling鈥�it is fidelity, gift and responsibility鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航.  

 鈥淲e were not put here just to make do, but to make something of our lives鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. He urged the young people to be heroic and to 鈥渄ream fearlessly鈥�. 鈥淧lease, don鈥檛 let your lives just pass by鈥�, added the 杏MAP导航.

Roots

杏MAP导航 Francis then told the young people gathered in the Lokomotiva Stadium that he wanted to give them another bit of advice. 鈥淔or love to be fruitful, don鈥檛 forget your roots,鈥� he said. 鈥淭oday, there is a danger of growing up rootless, because we feel we always have to be on the go, to do everything in a hurry鈥�. Instead, he explained, we must always be open to others.

"Today, there are so many disruptive forces, so many people ready to blame everyone and everything, spreaders of negativity, professional complainers", the 杏MAP导航 said. "Pay no attention to them, for pessimism and complaining are not Christian".

Overcoming obstacles

Then, answering Petra鈥檚 question on how young people can overcome obstacles on the path to God鈥檚 mercy, the 杏MAP导航 said that this too is 鈥渁 matter of how we see things and of looking to what really matters鈥�.

He wonders "if I were to ask all of you what you think about when you go to Confession", stating that he is "quite sure your answer will be 'our sins'鈥�.  But sins are not really the centre of Confession, he said. Our Father, who forgives everything, is at the centre. "We do not go to Confession to be punished and humiliated, but as children who run toward the Father鈥檚 loving arms", said the 杏MAP导航.

"I will give you a little piece of advice", said the 杏MAP导航: "after each Confession, sit still for a few moments in order to remember the forgiveness you received".  

Embracing the cross

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis addressed Peter and Lenka, who asked how young people can be encouraged not to be afraid to embrace the Cross. "Embracing helps us overcome fear", said the 杏MAP导航. "Whenever someone embraces us, we regain confidence in ourselves and in life.  So let us allow ourselves to be embraced by Jesus. Embracing the Cross with Jesus brings the joy of Jesus", said the 杏MAP导航 - "the same joy", he concluded, "that I want for you".