Who transforms persons, society, and the Church herself".
Francis exhorted the young to play a "decisive role ... in confronting the
challenges of our times: certainly material challenges, but more so those which
concern the vision of the human person. In fact, along with economic problems,
difficulty in finding work and the consequent uncertainty regarding the future,
there is a crisis of moral values and a diminished sense of the purpose of
life.
Faced with this critical situation, some may give in to the temptation to flee,
to avoid problems, becoming self-absorbed, taking refuge in alcohol, drugs, or
ideologies which preach hatred and violence. These are realities which I know
well because they were unfortunately also present in Buenos Aires, where I come
from. Thus I encourage you not to let yourselves be overcome by the
difficulties, but to let the strength that comes from your being human and
Christian flourish without fear; you will be then be able to sow seeds of a
more
just, fraternal, welcoming and peaceful society. Together with Christ, you
young
men and women are the vitality of the Church and society. If you let Christ
form
you, if you are open to dialogue with him in prayer, by reading and meditating
upon the Gospel, you will become prophets and witnesses to hope.
"You are called to this mission: to reclaim the hope in your present
circumstances of being open to the wonders of living; the hope which you have
to
overcome the way things are; hope to prepare for the future marked by a more
dignified social and human environment; hope to live in a more fraternal world
which is more just and peaceful, more genuine, worthier of the measure of
mankind. My hope is that you will be always more aware that you are sons and
daughters of this earth which has given life to you. This earth asks you to
love
her and to help her rebuild, to grow spiritually and socially, also with the
help of your ideas and your work. To overcome every trace of pessimism, you
will
need the courage to offer yourselves joyfully and with dedication to the
building of a welcoming society, a society which is respectful of all
differences and oriented towards a civilisation of love. An great example of
this way of living is seen in Blessed Ivan Mert. St. John Paul II Beatified him
in Banja Luka. May he always be an example for you and be your protector.
"The Christian faith teaches us that we are called to an eternal destiny, to
be
sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, who create
fraternity
for the love of Christ. I am so pleased by the ecumenical and interreligious
works taken up by you, young Catholics and Orthodox, with the involvement of
Muslim young people as well. The John Paul II Youth Centre plays a central role
in this important work, with initiatives that deepen mutual understanding and
solidarity, allowing the various ethnic and religious groups to coexist
peacefully together. I encourage you to continue this work, dedicating
yourselves to common projects with real gestures that show your closeness and
support to the poorest and most in need.
"Dear young people, your joyful presence, your thirst for truth and high
ideals
are signs of hope! Being young does not mean being passive, but rather means
being tenacious in your efforts to achieve important goals, even if this comes
at a price. Being young does not mean closing your eyes to difficulties:
instead, it requires a refusal to compromise or be mediocre. It does not mean
escaping or fleeing, but engaging rather in solidarity with everyone,
especially
the weakest. The Church counts on you and will continue to count on you who are
generous and capable of great energy and noble sacrifices. For this reason,
together with your pastors I ask you: do not isolate yourselves, but rather be
ever more united among yourselves so that you may enjoy the beauty of
fraternity
and be always more fruitful in your actions.
"Everyone will see that you are Christians by how you, young Christians of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, love one another and how committed you are to service.
Be not afraid; do not flee from reality; be open to Christ and to your brothers
and sisters. You are a vital part of that great people who make up the Church:
a
universal people, a people in whom all nations and cultures can receive God's
blessing and can discover the path to peace. With this people, each of you is
called to follow Christ and to give your life to God and to your brothers and
sisters, in the way that the Lord will reveal to you, or perhaps is revealing
to
you now! Will you respond? Do not be afraid. We are not alone. We are always in
the presence of God our heavenly Father, with Jesus our Brother and Lord, in
the
Holy Spirit; and we have the Church and Mary our Mother. May She protect you
and
always give you the joy and courage to witness to the Gospel".
Following the meeting, the Pope greeted a number of sick young people and
appeared at the terrace of the Centre to bless the faithful gathered outside.
Shortly after 7.30 p.m. he transferred by car to Sarajevo airport where he was
greeted by the Croatian member of the Tripartite Presidency, Dragan Covic, and
at 8 p.m. he departed for Rome, where he arrived an hour and a half later.
___________________________________________________________
The Pope interviewed by journalists during return flight from Sarajevo
Vatican City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) - Medjugorje, a possible visit to Croatia, the
need to make peace and not merely to talk about it, and the use of new
technologies by young people were some of the issues the Pope reflected upon as
he conversed with the journalists who accompanied him on the return flight to
Rome following his apostolic trip in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With regard to Medjugorje, which is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Francis
recalled that Benedict XVI had instituted a commission of theologians and
specialists, chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, which had studied the matter in
depth and, although the definitive final meeting has not yet taken place, it is
expected that the results will be communicated shortly.
In relation to Croatia, he mentioned that during his first trip in Europe, in
Albania, he had said that he would like to visit the continent starting from
its
smallest countries. "In the Balkans, there are martyred countries which have
suffered greatly and this is why my preference is here".
"It is not enough to talk about peace, peace must be made. To speak about
peace
without making it is contradictory, and those who speak about peace while
promoting war, for example through the sale of weapons, are hypocrites. It is
very simple", he said in response to a question linked to his meeting with the
young in which he spoke about the fomentation of a climate of war.
Finally, with reference to virtual communication, he affirmed that virtual
language is "a reality that we cannot deny: we must lead it onto a virtuous
path, as it is a form of progress for humanity. But when this draws us away
from
life together, from family life, as well as from sport and art, and stay
attached to the computer, this is a psychological malady".
___________________________________________________________
Pilgrimage is a symbol of life
Vatican City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) - As in previous years, the Pope has sent a
message to participants in the 37th nocturnal pilgrimage on foot from Macerata
to Loreto, Italy, gathered in the Helvia Recina stadium of Macerata during the
night of 6 June to attend the opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell.
This time, due to his apostolic trip to Sarajevo, the Holy Father's message was
recorded in advance and broadcast on the occasion.
"Pilgrimage is a symbol of life", says Francis. "It makes us think of life as
walking, as a path. If a person does not walk, but instead stays still, this is
not useful; it accomplishes nothing. Think of water: when water is not in the
river, it does not course, but instead it remains still and stagnates. A soul
that does not walk in life doing good, doing many things that one must do for
society, to assist others, or who does not walk through life seeking God and
inspiration from the Holy Spirit, is a soul that finishes in mediocrity and in
spiritual poverty. Please: do not stand still in life!"
___________________________________________________________
Cardinals Menichelli and Macario do Nascimento Clemente to take possession of
their titular churches
Vatican City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the
Supreme Pontiff today communicated that the following cardinals will take
possession of their titles in the coming days:
On Friday, 12 June at 7.00 p.m., Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli, archbishop of
Ancona-Osimo, Italy, will take possession of the title of Sacri Cuori di Ges∙ e
Maria a Tor Fiorenza (Via Poggia Moiano, 12).
On Sunday, 14 June at 5 p.m., Cardinal Manuel Jose Macario do Nascimento
Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon, Portugal, will take possession of the title of
Sant'Antonio in Campo Marzio (Via dei Portoghesi, 2).
___________________________________________________________
Audiences
Vatican City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience:
- Seven prelates of the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference, on their "ad
Limina"
visit:
- Archbishop Roberto Octavio Gonzalez Nieves, O.F.M., of San Juan de Puerto
Rico, with former auxiliary Bishop Hector Manuel Rivera Perez;
- Bishop Daniel Fernandez of Arecibo;
- Bishop Ruben Antonio Gonzalez Medina, C.M.F., of Caguas;
- Bishop Eusebio Ramos Morales of Fajardo-Humacao;
- Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio, S.J., of Mayaguez; and
- Bishop Felix Lazaro Martinez, Sch.P., of Ponce.
___________________________________________________________
Other Pontifical Acts
Vatican City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
- Bishop Heiner Koch of Dresden-Meissen as metropolitan archbishop of Berlin
(area 31,200, population 5,680,705, Catholics 407,060, priests 421, permanent
deacons 35, religious 668), Germany,
- Fr. Benito Adan Mendez Bracamonte as military ordinary for Venezuela. The
bishop-elect was born in Menegrande, Venezuela in 1962 and was ordained a
priest
in 1990. He holds a bachelor's degree from the Javierian University of Bogota
and specialised in bioethics at the Pontificial Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum,
Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral roles in the diocese of Trujillo,
including chaplain, vice rector of the diocesan seminary, director of the
diocesan newspaper and parish priest, and in the military ordinary of Venezuela
as military chaplain, director of formation of the seminary and vicar general.
___________________________________________________________
For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:
www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va
Copyright (VIS): the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source: V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html
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* Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)
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