蜜桃交友

By Francesca Merlo

鈥淚 join you with my heart鈥�, said Pope Francis when addressing the 鈥渘umerous鈥� young Catholics gathered to celebrate Youth Day in Vietnam鈥檚 northern Dioceses.

Pope Francis said that his message 鈥渞evolves around the word 鈥榟ome鈥欌��. A word, which, he explained, is part of the theme of this Youth Day: 鈥淕o to your home, to your family鈥� (Mk 5:15).

Pope Francis went on to explain that 鈥渋n the Vietnamese culture鈥�, no word is as wonderful as the word 鈥渉ome鈥�. It includes everything that is most highly valued by a person: 鈥渘ot only family and parenthood, but also birthplace and homeland鈥�.

Wherever you go, continued the Pope, you will take your 鈥渉ome鈥� with you. 鈥溾�橤o to your home鈥�, therefore, means going on a journey that brings you back to your origins and deepens your traditional and cultural heritage鈥�, he said.

Pope Francis then went on to specify that, through baptism, 鈥測ou are heirs to another 鈥榟ome鈥�, a bigger home, the Church.鈥� The Church is a home, he continued, adding 鈥測our home鈥�. It is a home that you will always be able to return to in order to find 鈥渟trength and inpiration鈥� based on God鈥檚 call, said the Pope.

Pope Francis then recalled that the Vietnamese Church is one born of generous and enthusiastic martyrs. May these first Christians 鈥済uide you鈥�, he said, and may 鈥測our gratitude towards them always be the source of a missionary enthusiasm鈥�.

鈥淚t is now up to you鈥�, said Pope Francis, to build a 鈥測oung and joyful Church-home鈥�, full of life and fraternity. The three characteristics necessary to fulfill this task, he said, are 鈥渉onesty, responsibility and optimism鈥�. All three, 鈥渁ccompanied by discernment鈥�.

The Pope explained that in this society, 鈥渋t is difficult to be faithful to one's own identity and faith without the capacity for discernment鈥�.

He acknowledged that honesty may often cause disadvantages, a sense of responsibility may cause discomfort and that optimism may appear strange 鈥渋n the face of the corrupt realities of society鈥�. However, he added, 鈥渢hese very values are what your society, and also your Church need from you.鈥�

Finally Pope Francis urged the youth in Vietnam not to be afraid of allowing their 鈥渂eautiful Catholic identity鈥� to 鈥渟hine forth鈥�, and expressed his hope that 鈥渢he Servant of God, Cardinal Van Thuan鈥� would give them support in loving their people and their country.