Pope Francis Tells Youth - We are "preparing to "play a World Cup" - "in Christ's team" - "to be better friends of Jesus every day" and "bear witness to the joy of the Gospel"
GREETINGS OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
TO A GROUP OF PILGRIMS FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CÓRDOBA (ARGENTINA)
Clementine Room on Sunday, July 16, 2023
_______________________________________________
Good day!
You, like so many thousands of young people who are going to Portugal during these days, are living the motto that summons us: like Mary, they got up — they left what they knew: their families, and their comforts — and left without delay to meet others (cf. Lc 1,39). Some carry the mate, others the guitar; but what identifies them all is "the shirt": the shirt of faith and love for God and brothers.
I would like to ask you, did you realize that you are preparing to "play a World Cup"? And this "world cup" is very special, it is a friendly match in which there are no winners or losers, but we all win. Because when we get out of ourselves and meet others, when we share —when we give what we have and are open to receive what others offer us—, when we don't reject anyone; then we are all victorious, and together we can raise “the cup of brotherhood”.
During these days in Rome, before WYD begins, you can see the traces of many Christians who followed Christ to the end, of many saints who gave their lives for Him at different times in history. And that teaches us that, in Christ's team, the game is played until the last minute, and we cannot get distracted or score goals against. We have to be attentive, play as a team, following the instructions of the technical director, that is, of the people who accompany us and guide us to be better friends of Jesus every day.
I encourage you to live this “world cup” intensely, this World Youth Day, it will enrich you with a great diversity of faces, cultures, experiences, different expressions and manifestations of our faith. But, above all, they will be able to deeply experience the desire of Jesus: that we be "one" so that the world may believe (cf. Jn 17:21), and this will help them bear witness to the joy of the Gospel to so many other young people who They do not find meaning in life or that they have already lost the way to move forward.
I wish them to play a good match. May Jesus bless you, the Holy Virgin take care of you. I ask you to pray for me. And see you in Lisbon. I'm going to give you a blessing.
TO A GROUP OF PILGRIMS FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CÓRDOBA (ARGENTINA)
Clementine Room on Sunday, July 16, 2023
_______________________________________________
Good day!
You, like so many thousands of young people who are going to Portugal during these days, are living the motto that summons us: like Mary, they got up — they left what they knew: their families, and their comforts — and left without delay to meet others (cf. Lc 1,39). Some carry the mate, others the guitar; but what identifies them all is "the shirt": the shirt of faith and love for God and brothers.
I would like to ask you, did you realize that you are preparing to "play a World Cup"? And this "world cup" is very special, it is a friendly match in which there are no winners or losers, but we all win. Because when we get out of ourselves and meet others, when we share —when we give what we have and are open to receive what others offer us—, when we don't reject anyone; then we are all victorious, and together we can raise “the cup of brotherhood”.
During these days in Rome, before WYD begins, you can see the traces of many Christians who followed Christ to the end, of many saints who gave their lives for Him at different times in history. And that teaches us that, in Christ's team, the game is played until the last minute, and we cannot get distracted or score goals against. We have to be attentive, play as a team, following the instructions of the technical director, that is, of the people who accompany us and guide us to be better friends of Jesus every day.
I encourage you to live this “world cup” intensely, this World Youth Day, it will enrich you with a great diversity of faces, cultures, experiences, different expressions and manifestations of our faith. But, above all, they will be able to deeply experience the desire of Jesus: that we be "one" so that the world may believe (cf. Jn 17:21), and this will help them bear witness to the joy of the Gospel to so many other young people who They do not find meaning in life or that they have already lost the way to move forward.
I wish them to play a good match. May Jesus bless you, the Holy Virgin take care of you. I ask you to pray for me. And see you in Lisbon. I'm going to give you a blessing.
Translation from Vatican Official Source: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/07/16/0510/01139.html
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