VATICAN VA REPORT: At 17:30, after crossing the square in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, greeting the young people waiting, the Holy Father entered the Basilica, welcomed by the Guardian of the Convent of the Portiuncula, Father Fabrizio Migliasso, OFM, and the Religious Community . Also present was the Papal Legate for the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Mary of the Angels, Cardinal Attilio Nicora.After the visit and silent prayer at the Portiuncula, at 18.15 Papa Francesco met the young people of Umbria, in the square of the Basilica.
's greeting to the Pope was led by the Archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia, Bishop Renato Boccardo, President Commission's regional youth ministry, together with eight young people representing the eight dioceses in Umbria. So some young people posed four questions about the Holy Father: family, work, vocation and mission.
publish the following questions from the young and the words of Pope Francesco response:
QUESTIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE HOLY FATHER
1. FAMILY: Chiara and Nicola Volpi (Perugia-Città della Pieve)
We young people live in a society where the center is feeling good, the fun, thinking to themselves. Living a marriage of young Christians is complex, open to life is a challenge and a fear frequently. As a young couple we feel the joy of living our marriage, but we experience fatigue and daily challenges. How the Church can help us, as our pastors can support us, what steps we are called to do?
2. WORK: Danilo Zampolini (Spoleto-Norcia) and David Girolami (Foligno)
Even Umbria in the general economic crisis of recent years has resulted in situations of hardship and poverty. The future is uncertain and threatening. The risk is to lose, along with economic security, even hope. How should look to the future a young Christian? On which roads to commit to building a society worthy of God and worthy of man?
3. VOCATION: Benedict Fattorini (Orvieto-Todi) and Maria Chiaroli (Terni-Narni-Amelia)
What to do in life? How and where to spend the talents the Lord has given me?
Sometimes there fascinated by the idea of the priesthood or consecrated life. But now comes the fear. And then, a commitment like this: "forever"? How to recognize the call of God? What do you recommend to those who want to dedicate their lives to the service of God and neighbor?
4. MISSION: Luca Nassuato (Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino) , Mirko Pierli (Città di Castello) and Petra Sannipoli (Gubbio)
It's nice for us to be here together with you and hear your words that encourage us and warm the heart. The Year of Faith which ends in a few weeks re-proposed to all believers the urgency of the announcement of the good news. We too would like to participate in this exciting adventure. But how? What can be our contribution? What should we do?
ANSWERS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Dear young people of Umbria, good evening!
Thank you for coming, thank you for this party! Really, this is a party! And thank you for your questions.
I'm glad that the first question was from a young couple . A beautiful testimony! Two young people who have chosen, they decided, with joy and courage to start a family. Yes, it is true, it takes courage to start a family! It takes courage! And the question to you, young married couples, it connects to the one on the vocation . What is marriage? It ' a true vocation , as are the priesthood and religious life. Two Christians who marry have recognized in their love story the Lord's call, the vocation to form two, male and female, one flesh, one life. And the Sacrament of Marriage wraps this love with the grace of God, rooted in God himself.With this gift, with the certainty of this call, you can leave safe, you are not afraid of anything, you can address everything together!
We think of our parents, our grandparents or great-grandparents: they were married in conditions much poorer than ours, some in time of war, or war, some are immigrants, like my parents. Where were the force? The were in the certainty that the Lord was with them, that the family is blessed by God in the sacrament of marriage, and blessed is the mission of giving birth to children and educating them. With these certainties have exceeded even the most severe trials. They were simple certainties, but real, formed of the columns that supported their love. It was not easy, their life, and there were problems, many problems. But these simple certainties helped them to move forward. And they managed to make a nice family, to give life, to make raising children.
Dear friends, it takes this basis to build moral and spiritual good, so solid! Today, this base is no longer guaranteed by families and social tradition. Indeed, the society in which you were born favors individual rights rather than the family - these individual rights -, favors relationships that last until difficulties arise, and for this reason sometimes speaks of the couple relationship, family and marriage a superficial and misleading. Would be enough to watch certain television programs and you see these values! How many times pastors - myself, a few times I heard it - feel a couple who is getting married: "But you know that marriage is for life?". "Ah, we love each other so much, but ... we will remain together for as long as love. When it ends, one on one side and the other on the other." And 'selfishness: when I do not feel it, cutting the wedding and I forget that' "one flesh", which can not divide. And 'risky married: it is risky! And 'selfishness that threatens us, because we all have within us the possibility of a split personality: one that says: "I, for free, I want this ...", and the other that says, "I, me, me with me, for me ... ". Selfishness always coming back and can not open up to others. The other difficulty is this culture of provisional: it seems that nothing is final. Everything is temporary. As I said before: well, love, while it lasts. I once heard a seminarian - bravo - who said: "I want to become a priest, but for ten years. After I think about it." And 'the culture of the provisional, and Jesus has saved temporarily : he saved us permanently!
But the Holy Spirit always brings new answers to new needs! And so have multiplied in the Church paths for boyfriends, the courses of preparation for marriage, groups of young couples in the parishes, movements family ... I am an immense wealth! They are points of reference for everyone: young people in research, couples in crisis, distressed parents with their children and vice versa.They help us all! And then there are the different forms of care: foster care, adoption, foster homes of various types ... The fantasy - I beg the word - the fantasy of the Holy Spirit is infinite, but it is also very practical! Then I would tell you not to be afraidto do the final steps : Do not be afraid of them. How many times have I heard mothers say to me: "But, Father, I have a son of 30 years old and not married I do not know what to do! Has a beautiful girlfriend, but you do not decide." But, lady, not the drafts more shirts! It 's so! Do not be afraid to take definitive steps, such as that of marriage: in-depth your love, respecting the timing and expressions, pray and prepare well, but then trust that the Lord will not leave you alone! Let him come in your home as one of the family, he will always support you.
The family is the vocation that God has written in the nature of man and woman, but there is another complementary vocation to marriage: the call to celibacy and virginity for the Kingdom of Heaven . And 'the vocation that Jesus himself lived. How to recognize it? How to follow? And 'the third question that I have done. But some of you may think, but this bishop, who bravo! We asked the question and he answers all ready, written! I received the questions a few days ago. For this reason, I know. And I reply with two essential elements on how to recognize this vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life. Praying and walking in the Church .These two things go together, they are intertwined. At the origin of every vocation to the consecrated life there is always a strong experience of God, an experience you will not forget, it is remembered for a lifetime! And 'that had Francis. And this we do not we can calculate or program. God always surprises us! And 'God who calls, but it is important to have a daily relationship with Him, listening in silence before the Tabernacle and within ourselves, talk to him, the Sacraments. Having this family relationship with the Lord is like holding open the window of our lives because He makes us hear his voice, what he wants from us. It would be nice to hear you, feel here the attending priests, nuns ... It would be great, because each story is unique, but all start at a meeting that illuminates the deep that touches the heart and involves the whole person: affection, intellect, senses, everything. Our relationship with God is not just a part of ourselves, about everything. It 'a love so great, so beautiful, so true, it deserves everything and deserves our trust. And one thing I would like to say it with strength, especially today: virginity for the Kingdom of God is not a "no" is a "yes"! Of course, implies the renunciation of a marital bond and to their families, but the basis is the "yes" as a response to the "yes" of Christ to us, and this "yes" makes it fruitful.
But here in Assisi there is no need for words! There is Francis, Clare there, speak to them! Their charism continues to speak to many young people in the whole world: boys and girls who leave everything to follow Jesus on the way of the Gospel.
Here, the Gospel . I would take the word "gospel" to answer the other two questions that I have done, the second and fourth .One concerns the social commitment, in this period of crisis that threatens the hope, and the other concerns evangelism, bring the message of Jesus to others. You asked me: what can we do? What can be our contribution?
Here in Assisi, close to the Portiuncula here, I seem to hear the voice of St. Francis, who tells us: "Gospel, Gospel." It also says to me, indeed, before me: Papa Francesco, be a servant of the Gospel! If I can not seem to be a servant of the Gospel, my life is worth nothing!
But the Gospel, dear friends, is not just about religion, about the man, the whole man, about the world, society, human civilization.The Gospel is the message of God's salvation for mankind. But when we say "the message of salvation," is not a figure of speech, are not mere words or empty words as there are so many today! Humanity really needs to be saved! We see it every day when I browse the newspaper, or hear the news on television, but we also see it around us, in people, situations, and we see it in ourselves! Each of us has need of salvation! Just can not do it! We need salvation! Salvation from what? From evil. The evil work, does his job. But evil is not invincible and the Christian does not resign in the face of evil. You young people, you want to resign in the face of evil, injustice, difficulties? Do you want or do not want? [ Young people respond: No! ] Ah, okay. Like this! Our secret is that God is greater than the evil: but this is true! God is greater than evil. God is infinite love, boundless mercy, and that Love has conquered evil at its root in the death and resurrection of Christ. This is the Gospel, the Good News: God's love has won! Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again. With him we can fight evil and win every day. We believe in it or not? [ Young people respond: Yes! ] But that 'yes' has to go in life! If I believe that Jesus has conquered evil and save me, I have to follow Jesus, I have to go on the road to Jesus for life.
Then the Gospel, the message of salvation, has two destinations that are related: the first, to arouse faith, and this is evangelization and the second, transform the world according to God's plan, and this is the Christian animation of society. But they are not two separate things, they are a single mission: to bring the Gospel through the witness of our lives transform the world!This is the way: bringing the Gospel through the witness of our lives.
We look Francesco: he did both of these things, with the strength of the one Gospel. Francesco has increased faith, renewed the Church, and at the same time renewed the company, has made it more fraternal, but always with the Gospel, by witness. Do you know what Francis once said to his brothers? "Preach the Gospel always and if necessary, also with words." But, how? You can preach the Gospel without words? Yes! With the testimony! Before the testimony, after the words! But the testimony!
Young Umbria: you do that too! Today, in the name of St. Francis, I tell you, I have neither gold nor silver to give you, but something far more valuable, the Gospel of Jesus boldly go! With the Gospel in his heart and in his hands, be witnesses of faith with your life: bring Christ into your home, announce it among your friends, welcome and serve the poor. Young, dates Umbria a message of life, peace and hope! You can do it!
The Lord's Prayer and Blessing
And please, I ask you to pray for me!
[01413-01.02] [Original text: Italian]
After the meeting with the young people of Umbria, the Holy Father was transferred by car to the Sanctuary of Rivo Torto.
SHARED FROM VATICAN VA
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