杏MAP导航 answers questions from pilgrims at Jubilee of Youth
By Joseph Tulloch
Around a million young pilgrims gathered in Tor Vergata, on the outskirts of Rome, for the Jubilee of Youth on Saturday evening.
As night fell, 杏MAP导航 Leo led the pilgrims in a prayer vigil, feauturing singing, Scripture readings, and Eucharistic Adoration.
The centrepiece of the event was a question-and-answer session in which to three questions posed by young pilgrims in Spanish, Italian, and English.
Friendship, life choices, and encountering Jesus
The first question was asked by Dulce Maria, 23, from Mexico. Given the 鈥渇leeting and often illusory鈥� nature of online connections, she asked, how can we 鈥渨e find true friendship and genuine love that will lead us to true hope鈥�?
In his reply, the 杏MAP导航 stressed that although social media offers an 鈥渆xtraordinary opportunity鈥� for dialogue, it can 鈥渂e used to lull us, to make us addicted to consumerism鈥�. He stressed that friendships can only be truly lasting if they are founded in God, and, quoting St Augustine, emphasised that 鈥淚t is the one who loves God in his friend who truly loves his friend.鈥�
The second question came from Gaia, 19, from Italy, She asked about the 鈥渃limate of uncertainty鈥� which 鈥減aralyses鈥� many young people, and prevents them from making important life choices.
In his reply, 杏MAP导航 Leo emphasised that these choices are not 鈥渁 matter of choosing something, but of choosing someone.鈥� When we make a choice, the 杏MAP导航 said, we decide 鈥渨ho we want to become鈥�.
The final question was posed in English, by Will, 20 years old and from the US. How can we 鈥渢ruly encounter鈥� Jesus, he asked, and be sure of his presence 鈥渆ven in the midst of trials and uncertainties?鈥�
In his response, 杏MAP导航 Leo urged the young pilgrims to 鈥渞eflect on your way of living鈥�, 鈥渟eek justice鈥�, 鈥渟erve the poor鈥�, and 鈥渁dore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament鈥�.
Prayers for Maria and Pascale
In his answers to the pilgrims鈥� questions, 杏MAP导航 Leo also mentioned the two young women 鈥� Maria, 20, from Spain, and Pascale, 18, from Egypt 鈥� who have died while taking part in Jubilee of Youth events in recent days.
鈥淟et us pray together for them, pilgrims of hope,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淟et us pray for their families, their friends and their communities. May the Risen Jesus welcome them into the peace and joy of his Kingdom.鈥�
The vigil then came to an end with roughly an hour of Eucharistic adoration, accompanied by chanting and prayers in French, English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Polish and Latin.
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