Sunday, August 12, 2018

Meeting the Youth of Italy

At 9:30 this morning (3:30am EDT) in Saint Peter's Square, the President of the Italian Bishops' Conference, His Eminence, Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti presided over the Eucharistic celebration for those who are participating in the prayer gathering between the Holy Father, Pope Francis and the young people of Italy (entitled A thousand roads to Rome).  This gathering has been organized by the Italian Bishops' Conference in preparation for the Synod of Bishops which will take place from 3 to 28 October 2018 focused on the theme: Youth, faith and vocational discernment.



At the conclusion of the liturgy, the Pope entered the Square.  After having completed a tour among the young people aboard the popemobile, and following a few words of greeting offered by Cardinal Bassetti, the Holy Father conferred upon the young people his missionary mandate and blessed the gifts which the Italian young people will carry with them to the World Youth Day gathering in Panama (22-27 January 2019): the San Damiano Cross and a statue of the Madonna of Loretto.

The Holy Father then led the recitation of the Angelus and finally, blessed the young people, marking the conclusion of their celebration and encouraging them to return to their own dioceses.

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