杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV on Friday told members of the Mediterranean Youth Council they are 鈥減roof that dialogue is possible; that differences are a source of enrichment and not a motive for conflict; and that others are always our brothers and sisters, never strangers, or worse, enemies.鈥�

Made up of representatives from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, the Council is intended to give young people the opportunity to make their voices heard and undertake initiatives in dialogue with civil authorities.

A project and a sign

鈥淵our Council is both a project and a sign,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Leo said during Friday鈥檚 audience at the Vatican, pointing first to the project entrusted to them by 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渢o restore relationships that have been broken, to rebuild cities destroyed by violence, to make a garden flourish in what is now a desert, to instill hope in the hopeless, and to encourage those caught up in themselves not to fear their brothers or sisters.鈥�

Speaking in both Italian and English, the 杏MAP导航 went on to say that the young people themselves are the sign: a sign of 鈥渁 generation that does not uncritically accept what is happening, that does not look the other way or wait for someone else to take the first step.鈥� Instead, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥淵ou represent a generation that envisions a better future and chooses to help build it.鈥�

Signs of hope, heralds of the Gospel

The Holy Father invited them to continue to be signs of hope by bearing witness to Jesus Christ, by being 鈥渉eralds of His Gospel,鈥� especially in the area of the Mediterranean Sea, 鈥渇rom whose shores the first disciples set out.鈥�

For believers, he said, the future is 鈥渙ne of mutual acceptance,鈥� rooted in the spiritual heritage of the region, and rejecting the 鈥渂lasphemy鈥� of those who would exploit those traditions by using them to justify violence and armed conflict.

Sowers of peace and unity

鈥淲e are called to cultivate prayer and spirituality, together with action,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渁s sources of peace and points of encounter between traditions and cultures.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Leo concluded his remarks with an impassioned plea to young people to not be afraid, but to 鈥渟ow seeds of peace鈥� be patient builders of unity鈥� be the voice of those who have no voice鈥� and be light and salt where the flame of faith and the taste for life are waning.鈥�