杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

杏MAP导航 Francis has invited a group of young pilgrims from Belgium to be ambassadors of peace in a broken world, and encouraged them to be creative in the face of difficulties, while always confiding in Jesus, and allowing themselves to be enlightened by the experience of the elderly.

The Church is young

Addressing a group of 300 young people from Belgian parishes in the Clementine Hall on Monday, the 杏MAP导航 praised their commitment and Christian witness in an increasingly secularized and conflictual society.

He said the Church needs their enthusiasm and generosity to build a better and more peaceful world.

Crises make us grow

In the face of difficulties and crises, which he remarked 鈥渕ake us grow鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis invited the young people to cultivate a solid relationship with Christ, calling Him 鈥渢he faithful friend who never disappoints鈥�. A relationship with Christ, he added, can help us accept our own frailty and weakness 鈥渨ith humility and without fear.鈥�

He also encouraged them to cultivate closeness to their peers, 鈥渋n particular to those living in precarious situations, young migrants and refugees, youth living in the street, as well as those who experience loneliness and sadness.鈥�

Dialogue with the elderly

Referring to their aspirations for 鈥渁 true and authentic Church鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis reiterated that for them to contribute 鈥渢o a joyful Christian community鈥� they need to let themselves be enlightened by the advice and testimony of the elderly,  who are 鈥渙ur roots鈥�.

鈥淚t is by growing in dialogue with the elderly," he said, "that we can form a solid personality for our daily struggles. They also transmit their faith and religious convictions to us.鈥�

Be artisans of peace 

One of those struggles 鈥渋n these difficult times for humanity鈥�, the Holy Father continued, is peace, which can be attained by spreading the Christian values in society.

Never tire of being bearers of the Gospel

He therefore invited the Belgian pilgrims not be afraid of challenges and 鈥渘ever tire of being bearers of the Gospel鈥� wherever they go, without being distracted by the many trivialities of life, but rather 鈥渇ocusing on the essential, which comes from our friendship with Jesus Christ.鈥�

In conclusion, the 杏MAP导航 entrusted them to the maternal care of the Virgin Mary, and highlighted the importance of praying the Rosary 鈥渁 school of prayer and life鈥�.