Saturday, April 23, 2016

Video greetings to young boys and girls

Pope Francis prepared a video message which was shared this evening with boys and girls who are gathered in Rome's Olympic Stadium for a large celebration of music and testimonies as part of the Jubilee of Teens.


Video message of His Holiness, Pope Francis
addressed to participants taking part in the
Jubilee for Teens

Dear boys and girls, good evening!

You have gathered for a time of celebration and joy. I was not able to come and I'm sorry. And I decided to greet you with this video. I would have loved to be able to come to the Stadium, but was not able to join you. I thank you for having accepted the invitation to come here to celebrate the Jubilee in Rome. This morning you turned Saint Peter's Square into a big confessional and then you entered through the Holy Door. Do not forget that the Door is the encounter with Christ, who introduces us to the Father who asks us to be merciful as He is merciful.

Tomorrow, we will celebrate Mass together. It was right that there would also be a place to get together with joy and listen to some important testimonies, which should help you to grow in faith and in life.

I know you have a bandana with the corporal works of mercy written on it: be sure to put these words into your head because they are the style of the Christian life. As you know the works of mercy are simple gestures that belong to every day life, allowing you to recognize the Face of Jesus in the faces of so many people, even young people! Young people like you who are hungry and thirsty; who are refugees or strangers or sick and in need of our help and our friendship.

To be merciful means to be able to forgive. And this is not easy, eh? It can happen that, sometimes, in the family, at school, in the parish, in the gym or in places where we play, someone can do us wrong and we are outraged; or in moments of nervousness we, too, can offend others. We do not remain with resentment or the desire for revenge! There is no purpose for this because it is a worm that eats away at the soul and does not allow us to be happy. Let us forgive and forget the wrong done to us; in this way we can understand the teaching of Jesus and be his disciples and witnesses of mercy.

Young people, how many times does it happen to me that I phone friends, however I can't get through to them because there is no signal (WiFi or connection). I'm sure it happens to you too: the cell phone signal in some places does not work. Just remember that if Jesus is not in your life, it is as though there was no signal.  Let’s always place ourselves where we have the signal (connection): the family, the parish, the school, because in this world we will always have something to say that is good and true.

Now I greet you all, I want you to live this moment with joy and I am waiting for you all tomorrow in Saint Peter's Square. Ciao!

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