Pope invites Paraguay youth to
bring Gospel to the poorest
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| File photo of Pope Francis greeting young Paraguayans in Asuncion on 12 July 2015 |
Pope Francis sends his greetings to the young people of
Paraguay, urging them to embrace Jesus Christ and to be missionary disciples.
By Devin Watkins
The conclusion of a 3-year initiative dedicated to young
people formed the occasion for the Pope’s message to Paraguayan youth.
Organized by the country’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the
Triennium ended with a forum held over the weekend in the capital, Asunción,
which was attended by some 600 young people.
Vocation
In his message to participants, Pope Francis reflected on
the theme “Youth, Faith, and Vocational Discernment”.
“As the fruit of this time of grace in which you have
reflected on the centrality of faith,” the Pope encouraged Paraguayan youth “to
embrace Jesus Christ, who has called you to be his friends, so that you may
remain in him and bear much fruit”.
The Holy Father also urged young people to listen to the
Lord’s voice.
God, he said, sends them – both as individuals and as a
community – to be “witnesses to the Good News of salvation” amongst the poorest
of their brothers and sisters.
Under Mary’s protection
Pope Francis concluded his message inviting the young people
of Paraguay to pray for him.
And he entrusted them to the intercession of Mary, under the
auspices of Our Lady of Caacupé.
The Pope’s message was read out at the forum’s closing Mass
on Sunday, and was signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
To take Gospel to needy
The forum, which concluded the Triennium on Youth, saw
participants come from all over Paraguay.
Three days of spiritual reflection showed them how to act as
the Church’s outstretched arms for their contemporaries, with small group
discussions exploring themes like the family, politics, women, sport,
addiction, and the environment.
The goal of the forum was to “inspire, strengthen, and
consolidate the social action” of the young people present.
With the Pope’s words of encouragement, Paraguayan youth
were given a missionary mandate to spread the Gospel to their brothers and
sisters most in need.
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