杏MAP导航

By Joseph Tulloch

杏MAP导航 Francis met on Friday morning with a group of young people from the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

In a brief address, the 杏MAP导航 reflected with the group of children and teenagers on the meaning of pilgrimage, urging them to "never stop moving forward.”

On the move

The theme for the 2025 Jubilee Year, the 杏MAP导航 said, is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. The concept of pilgrimage, he pointed out, is intrinsically tied to that of walking.

“This is what I would like to wish for you," the 杏MAP导航 said, "that you might always be on the move.”

“Never stand still," the 杏MAP导航 urged. “Never stop moving forward.”

The destination

A pilgrim, however, the 杏MAP导航 stressed, is not only someone who walks but someone who has a destination—and, in the case of pilgrims this Jubilee Year, that destination is the Holy Door.

The Holy Door, the 杏MAP导航 said, is of course a symbol, one that represents Jesus Christ, who is the Mystery of Salvation, "which allows us to enter into new life.”

And so, the 杏MAP导航 stressed, “I would like to wish for you not only to be on the move but also to be pilgrims—that is, eager to meet Jesus, to know Him, and to listen to His Word."

Pilgrims of hope

杏MAP导航 Francis brought his address to a conclusion by offering the example of various young people—Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. Francis, and St. Clare, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus—who chose to live their lives in this way.

“Dear friends,” the 杏MAP导航 said, “these are ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, young people who encountered the Lord Jesus and walked with Him... Let us take this path, and we too can become little signs of hope for those we meet."