THEMES
OF THE NEXT THREE WORLD YOUTH DAYS
-
24th World Youth Day (2009): "We Have Set Our Hope on the Living
God" (1 Tim 4:10)
-
25th World Youth Day (2010): "Good Teacher, What Must I do to Inherit
Eternal Life?" (Mk 10:17)
-
26th World Youth Day (2011): "Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm
in the Faith" (cf
MESSAGE
FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY
"We
have set our hope on the living God" is the theme of the Holy Father's
Message to young people for the Twenty-fourth World Youth Day, which is due to
be celebrated on 5 April, Palm Sunday. The text was published today in four
languages: Italian, Spanish, English and French. Extracts from the
English-language version are given below:
"1. Youth, a time of hope"
"We are all aware of the need for hope, not just any kind of hope, but a
firm and reliable hope. ... Youth is a special time of hope because it looks
to the future with a whole range of expectations. When we are young we cherish
ideals, dreams and plans. Youth is the time when decisive choices concerning
the rest of our lives come to fruition. Perhaps this is why it is the time of
life when fundamental questions assert themselves strongly. ... These are
questions that become insistent when we are faced with obstacles that
sometimes seem insurmountable. ... We then ask ourselves: where can I obtain
and how can I keep alive the flame of hope burning in my heart?
"
"Experience shows that personal qualities and material goods are not
enough to guarantee the hope which the human spirit is constantly seeking. ...
Politics, science, technology, economics and all other material resources are
not of themselves sufficient to provide the great hope to which we all aspire.
This hope 'can only be God, Who encompasses the whole of reality and Who can
bestow upon us what we, by ourselves, cannot attain'. This is why one of the
main consequences of ignoring God is the evident loss of direction that marks
our societies, resulting in loneliness and violence, discontent and loss of
confidence that can often lead to despair".
"The crisis of hope is more likely to affect the younger generations. In
socio-cultural environments with few certainties, values or firm points of
reference, they find themselves facing difficulties that seem beyond their
strength. ... For some (unfortunately a significant number) the almost
unavoidable way out involves an alienating escape into dangerous and violent
behaviour, dependence on drugs and alcohol, and many other such traps for the
unwary. ... But how can we speak of this hope to those young people? ... The
main task for us all is that of a new evangelisation aimed at helping younger
generations to rediscover the true face of God, Who is Love. To you young
people, who are in search of a firm hope, I address the very words that
"
"When Paul found himself immersed in difficulties and trials of various
kinds, he wrote to his faithful disciple Timothy: 'We have set our hope on the
living God'. How did this hope take root in him? In order to answer that
question we must go back to his encounter with the Risen Jesus on the road to
"4. The great hope is in Christ
"For Paul, hope is not simply an ideal or sentiment, but a living person:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ... If we are not alone, if He is with us, even
more, if He is our present and our future, why be afraid?"
"5. The way towards the great hope
"Just as He once encountered the young Paul, Jesus also wants to
encounter each one of you, my dear young people. ... But perhaps some of you
might ask me: How can I meet Him today? Or rather, in what way does He
approach me? The Church teaches us that the desire to encounter the Lord is
already a fruit of His grace".
"Persevering prayer opens the heart to receive Him. ... Make space for
prayer in your lives! To pray alone is good, although it is even more
beautiful and fruitful to pray together, because the Lord assured us He would
be present wherever two or three are gathered in His name".
"Take part in your parish liturgies and be abundantly nourished by the
word of God and your active participation in the Sacraments. As you know, the
summit and centre of the life and mission of every believer and every
Christian community is the Eucharist".
"6. Acting in accordance with Christian hope
"If you find your sustenance in Christ, my dear young people, and if you
live profoundly in Him as did the Apostle Paul, you will not be able to resist
speaking about Him and making Him known and loved by many of your friends and
contemporaries".
"The Church depends on you for this demanding mission. Do not be
discouraged by the difficulties and trials you encounter. Be patient and
persevering so as to overcome the natural youthful tendency to rush ahead and
to want everything immediately".
"If Jesus has become your hope, communicate this to others with your joy
and your spiritual, apostolic and social engagement. ... Make choices that
demonstrate your faith. Show that you understand the risks of idolising money,
material goods, career and success, and do not allow yourselves to be
attracted by these false illusions. Do not yield to the rationale of selfish
interests. Cultivate love of neighbour and try to put yourselves and your
human talents and professional abilities at the service of the common good and
of truth, always prepared to 'make your defence to anyone who demands from you
an accounting for the hope that is in you'. True Christians are never sad,
even if they have to face trials of various kinds, because the presence of
Jesus is the secret of their joy and peace.
"7. Mary, Mother of hope"
"The Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope ... who incarnated the hope of
"Mary, Star of the Sea, we ask you to guide the young people of the whole world to an encounter with your Divine Son Jesus. Be the celestial guardian of their fidelity to the Gospel and of their hope".