杏MAP导航

An Orthodox Church damaged by a Russian attack in Ukraine's Donetsk region An Orthodox Church damaged by a Russian attack in Ukraine's Donetsk region 

杏MAP导航: Amid the scandal of war, trust in God and humanity

杏MAP导航 Francis sends a message to young people gathered in the German town of Rostock for the 45th Taiz茅 European meeting.

By Linda Bordoni

鈥淵ou are undoubtedly concerned and scandalized鈥 by the reappearance of war in Europe, says 杏MAP导航 Francis to participants in the Taizé Community鈥檚 annual European meeting, 鈥渁nd you are looking for ways to react; what to do together to help build peace and a greater human brotherhood.鈥

And inviting them to be lucid 鈥渁bout the evil that surrounds us as well as that which sometimes inhabits our hearts,鈥 the 杏MAP导航 utters a heartfelt invocation:

鈥淭rust in God without despairing of humanity.鈥

The message written by Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for the Secretariat of State of the Holy See on the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 behalf, is an encouragement to the young people of the ecumenical monastic fraternity to keep hope alive, constantly trusting in the Lord.

Noting that the theme of this year鈥檚 gathering is 鈥淚nner Life and Solidarity鈥, the 杏MAP导航 remarks on how it is by practicing human solidarity, strengthened by the presence of the Lord, that they will feel how much God can act through them "to change the world.鈥

A time of fear and anxiety

At a time in history in which "many young people live with anxiety and sometimes fear,鈥 he says, the Gospel shows us that "Jesus prepares his disciples to resist the fear that paralyzes, that blocks all initiative, that isolates.鈥

 鈥淗e does not promise them an easy life, but his peace,鈥 he explains.

鈥淏y welcoming this Spirit, you will be able to say 鈥渘o鈥 to injustice in all its forms while allowing the 鈥測es鈥 to mature in you, which will allow you to seek together the answers to the challenges of our time.鈥

Synodal process

杏MAP导航 Francis reminds the young people of the Taizé community that it is in order to allow the People of God to listen to the Spirit that he has asked the Catholic Church to engage in a synodal process.

鈥淪o that the good news of Jesus may be better proclaimed to the world, with the joy and hope that he brings to every person.鈥

The message ends with an invitation to all to take part in this process and pray for this intention.

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27 December 2022, 18:00