Pope to young people: There is still time to dream, plan, and do good
Meeting with young people in Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV urges
them not to give into despair, rather to cultivate friendships rooted in
genuine love and to keep the enthusiasm that is needed "to change the course
of history."
By Kielce Gussie
For his last event on the first full day in Lebanon, Pope
Leo XIV met with young people in Bkerké, Lebanon. The event began with the
testimonies of volunteers and young people, before two more asked the Holy
Father questions.
In
his speech, the Pope began by addressing those present with the
“greeting of the Risen Jesus”, “assalamu alaikum” or peace be with you.
The enthusiasm they all feel, the Pope highlighted,
“expresses God’s loving closeness, which brings us together as brothers and
sisters to share our faith in him and our communion with one another.”
Specifically, he welcomed the young people from Syria and Iraq as well as all
the Lebanese who have returned from living abroad.
There is still time
Turning back to the testimonies from Anthony, Maria, Elie,
and Joelle—whom they heard before the Pope’s address—the Holy Father emphasized
that theirs were stories of “courage in the midst of suffering, hope in the
face of disappointment, and inner peace during times of war.”
The Pope encouraged
the thousands of young people to keep "the enthusiasm to change the course
of history" (@Vatican Media)
The history of Lebanon is full of both glorious and
difficult moments. In this storied past, Pope Leo encouraged the young people
not to lose hope. “Perhaps you regret inheriting a world torn apart by wars and
disfigured by social injustice. Yet, there is hope within you—a gift that we
adults seem to have lost,” he lamented. "There is still time to plan,
dream, and do good".
He reminded them that they are the present and the future
and that they are the ones who can change the course of history. Evil is not
the antidote to evil, but rather the answer is love. The witness of the four
testimonies “are prophecies of a new future that will be ushered in through
reconciliation and mutual help.”
Christ as a foundation to peace
Lebanon, the homeland of these young people, will flourish
once again, Pope Leo stressed. Looking to the example of the cedar tree—the
national emblem—he noted how the tree’s strength lies in its roots, as is the
same for the people of Lebanon. The Holy Father urged the young people to “draw
from the good roots of those dedicated to serving society without using it for
their own interests.”
He called them to be the source of hope that the country
needs. Pope Leo pointed out that the questions the two young people asked help
plot a course for the future. The first question involved finding a solid
foundation on which to persevere in the commitment to peace, which the Pope
emphasized cannot be an idea, contract or moral principle. The risen Christ
must be this foundation.
Peace, however, can only be authentic if it is not the
result of partisan aims. It is true that “forgiveness leads to justice, which
is the foundation of peace.”
True friendship does not have a time limit
The second question asked to the Pope was about keeping
relationships grounded in genuine love. The Holy Father explained the need to
avoid letting our personal interests take precedence over trusting in and
caring for others. He warned that “if our ego is at the center of a friendship
or loving relationship, it cannot bear fruit.”
True love, Pope Leo noted, is not temporary, rather it
cannot have a time limit. Moreover, genuine friendship is when “you” is placed
before “I”. “This respectful and welcoming way of looking at others”, he
highlighted, “makes it possible for us to build a greater “we”, open to society
as a whole and to all of humanity.
Firm friendships are built on shared trust and the “forever”
that is at the heart of every call to family and religious life.
Not to be discouraged
Love is the greatest expression of God’s presence in the
world. Charity is a universal language “because it speaks to every heart.” Pope
Leo explained that charity is not just an idea, but it is a story that reveals
the lives of Jesus and the saints—who accompany us in the challenges of our
lives.
Think of the many young people—who like those present in
this square—have refused to be discouraged by injustices and bad examples, even
those in the Church. Rather, they are working to create new paths in search of
Heaven and its justice.
The Holy Father then reminded the young people of the
examples of Saints Pier Giorgio Frassati, Carlo Acutis, and the many Lebanese
saints, such as St. Rafqa, Blessed Yakub El-Haddad, and St. Charbel.
In a world overwhelmed with distractions, the Pope
encouraged the young people to “take time each day to close your eyes and look
only at God.” Though He may seem quiet, Pope Leo stressed that God speaks to
those who look for Him in the silence.
Closing, the Pope highlighted the beauty that many young
people carry a rosary with them. He urged them to keep the St. Francis of
Assisi prayer for peace (Lord, make me an instrument of your peace) in their
hearts and minds to help keep Christian enthusiasm alive within them.
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