YOUTH
ONE
WAY YOUNG PEOPLE CAN OVERCOME THEIR PROBLEMS
Statement
of Pope John Paul II
The
Church today observes the generosity of many young people, their desire
to make the world a better place and to make the Christian community
advance. Thus she focuses
her attention to them, seeing in them a privileged participation in the
hope which comes to her from the Holy Spirit.
The grace operating in young people paves the way for the
Church’s progress as regards both her expansion and her quality.
Very rightly we can speak f the Church of the young, remembering
that the Holy Spirit renews in everyone-even in the elderly, provided
they remain open and receptive-the vibrance of grace.
Since
“youth is a time of an especially intensive discovery of one’s self
and one’s choice of life: (Christifidels laici,n.46) today, more than
ever, it is necessary to help young people to get to know themselves
with regard to what is beautiful and promising within them.
Their qualities and creative capacity should be oriented to the
highest aim that can attract and infect hem with enthusiasm: the good of
society, solidarity towards all their brothers and sister, the spread of
Gospel ideal of life and concrete commitment to neighbor, participation
in the Church’s efforts to encourage the advent of a better world.
On
the other hand, it is true that you people are also “troubled by
anxieties, by disappointments by anguish and fear of the world, as well
as by the temptations that come with their state” (Christifideles
Laici, n.46)
The
Pope will never tire of repeating the invitation of dialogue, and of
urging the involvement of youth. He has done so in a great many texts addressed to them, and
in particular in the Letter on the occasion of the International Youth
Year proclaimed by the United Nations (1992).
This
is one of the most comforting experiences of my pontifical ministry, as
that of the pastoral activities of my brother Bishops throughout the
world who, like the Pope,
see the Church advancing with the youth in prayer, at the service of
humanity, in evangelization. We
all yearn to conform increasingly to the example and teaching of Jesus,
who called people to follow him in the manner of “children” and
“young people”.
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