杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淲hen a young person sees in another young person the same calling, and this experience is repeated with hundreds, and even thousands of other young people, then great things become possible鈥︹��

with these words of encouragement for the young people taking part in the Economy of Francesco, reminding them that they can change the world for the better.

The Holy Father recognized that previous generations have left to the young many riches, but 鈥渉ave not known how to protect the planet and are not securing peace.鈥� Young people, he said, 鈥渁re called to become artisans and builders of our common home.鈥�

A prophetic vision of the environment and the earth

杏MAP导航 Francis also highlighted the model of prophecy that was the focus of the Economy of Francesco, and insisted on the need for a 鈥渘ew vision of the environment and the earth.鈥�

In addition to ecological sustainability, the 杏MAP导航 also called attention to the social, relational, and spiritual dimensions of sustainability.

This, he said, involves recognizing the cry of the poor in the cry of the earth, and keeping the poor ever in mind; building relationships to overcome a 鈥渇amine of happiness in the modern world鈥�; and recognizing that spiritual capital is prior to, and more important than, economic capital.

Respect, love, and care for the poor

Recalling the love of Saint Francis for the poor, 杏MAP导航 Francis insisted that the Economy of Francesco must 鈥渞espect, love, and care for the poor, for every poor person, for every fragile and vulnerable person.鈥�

This, he said, means not only working for the poor, but changing the economy. We need not embrace poverty, as Saint Francis did, but must change the economy in order to combat the misery people face.

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his remarks with three signposts for the young people going forward.

He invited them to look at the world with the eyes of the poorest of the poor; to remember those who work with their hands and the importance of work; and to 鈥渋ncarnate鈥� their ideas in concrete actions.