杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

In a video message to the participants of the Meeting 鈥淢ed24鈥� taking place in Tirana, entitled "Pilgrims of Hope, Builders of Peace," 杏MAP导航 Francis on Tuesday alluded to the theme of the upcoming Jubilee Year, and reminded the young people of Albania and the wider Mediterranean region of their responsibility and role in shaping the future of their communities.

Recalling his 2014 visit to Albania, the 杏MAP导航 expressed joy at reconnecting with the country and its people, whom he described as 鈥�a people enriched with several different faces but united by the same courage.鈥�

鈥淵ou are the new generation of Albania, and now I want to say: You, the new generation, are the future of the Mediterranean region,鈥� he said.

Build peace together

Focusing on the meeting鈥檚 central theme of hope and peace, the 杏MAP导航 said peace must be built together with intention and concrete actions.

He also underscored the importance of fraternity, reminding the young participants that 鈥淕od loves every person; He makes no differences among us.鈥�

He said a growing sense of fraternity between the five shores of the Mediterranean, is 鈥渢he best answer we can offer to conflicts and deadly indifference,鈥� and he encouraged the youth to learn to discern the signs of the times, recognizing the richness of their cultural and religious diversity.

Unity in diversity

鈥淯nity is not uniformity,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd the diversity of your cultural and religious identities is a gift of God. Unity in diversity.鈥�

The Holy Father urged them to foster mutual esteem, following in the footsteps of their forefathers, whom, he said, lived in respect and cooperation despite their differences.

In particular, he called for attention to the plight of the marginalized and vulnerable, especially migrants and those forced to leave their homes in search of a better future. Thus, he urged the young people to 鈥渞enounce the culture of indifference鈥� and embrace a culture of care, friendship, and solidarity.

The Mediterranean connection

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 likened the Mediterranean to a 鈥渂eautiful garden鈥� that connects the people who live along its shores.

The sea, he said, symbolizes the shared responsibility of fostering unity and peace, and he upheld the example of martyrs, like Blessed Maria Taci, who, at the age of 22, offered her life as a witness of faith and resistance against violence.

鈥淭heir courage is a living witness that can inspire your commitment to resisting all violence disfiguring our humanity,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 added.

Pilgrims of hope

Finally, he invoked the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 鈥淢other of Good Counsel,鈥� whose maternal gaze, he said, has long watched over the Mediterranean.

He told the young participants to follow her example, becoming 鈥渞estless pilgrims of hope鈥� and working to ensure that the Mediterranean region may once again reflect its true essence as 鈥渁n expression of fraternity and peace.鈥�

May the Mediterranean, he prayed, be transformed into a place of unity and hope, 鈥渘o longer a graveyard,鈥� but a region where fraternity flourishes.