The Pope to the young people of Notre

Tiziana Campisi – Vatican City

Every young person is a hope for Jesus: a hope of friendship, a hope of journey together, a hope of mission together. And therefore each of you is also a hope for the Church.

This is how Francis speaks to the youth movement of the Teams of Our Lady – received in audience this morning – which proposes to live according to the principles of Catholic doctrine, to “grow in the relationship with Christ and the Virgin Mary”, and “on a mission in daily life” . To young people who come together as a team and led by a couple to pray, share, discuss and define objectives to be achieved, the Pope offers a reflection on the three words that make up their name: team, Notre-Dame and young people.

Team

Regarding the group experience of the young people of Our Lady, the Pontiff defines a gift as “being part of a community, of a family of families that transmits a lived faith” and adds:

We are all in a relationship, to learn how to team up. God wanted to enter into this dynamic of relationships and draws us to himself in community, giving our life a full sense of identity and belonging. Because the Lord saves us by making us a people, his people. Don’t let the world make you think it’s best to go alone.

Francis warns that alone one can “perhaps achieve some success, but without love, without company, without belonging to a people, without the priceless experience that is dreaming together, taking risks together, suffering together and celebrating together”. Hence the invitation to open up, to take risks, not to be afraid of others. And “if it is true that there are bullying, abuses, lies, betrayals”, the Pope adds, we need to worry more “about defending the victims”. So the Pontiff praises the choice of “growing as a team” and “in this era of the virtual and the consequent loneliness in which they fall” many young people, urges the youth groups of Notre-Dame to move forward as a team, to build bridges and to team up .

Notre-Dame

Then dwelling on the word “Notre-Dame”, which recalls the particular devotion to Our Lady of the young people of the movement and the desire to follow her example – “placing oneself under her maternal protection” – and to understand her privileged place in the mystery of Christ and of salvation, the Pope points out that when one welcomes Mary into one’s life, “one never loses the center, which is the Lord. Because Mary never points to herself, but to Jesus and her brothers ”, she always invites us to look at Christ. For this he urges young people to entrust themselves to Our Lady.

I encourage you to live in daily entrustment to the Virgin Mary, who will also help you grow as a team, sharing the gifts received in a spirit of dialogue and mutual acceptance. It will help you to have a generous heart, to discover the joy of service in gratuitousness, as she did when she went to St. Elizabeth.

The invitation to prepare for World Youth Day

And citing the Gospel episode, Francis recalls that the theme of the next World Youth Day, which will take place in Lisbon in a year, is taken from here, “Mary got up and went quickly”. And he trusts that he loves the title of “‘Madonna in a hurry’, who wastes no time to help”.

Getting up to serve, going out to take care of others and of creation: these are typical values ​​of young people. I urge you to practice them as you prepare for WYD in Lisbon.

Young

Finally, the third word: “young”. The Pope uses it to affirm that “the future belongs to young people”, but that it is necessary to have “wings to fly, dream, create” and “roots to receive wisdom from the elderly”, to remain united with grandparents, their roots, because , Francesco warns, if you are unable to speak with your grandparents you will not be able to fly. and on this he invites us to reflect.

Adults witnesses of listening, dialogue, service and prayer

At the end of his speech, Francis addresses his thoughts to the adults who follow the young people of the Notre-Dame Teams: married couples and assistant priests.

I think it is a great joy for you to welcome and accompany these young people. May you be witnesses to them, with humility and simplicity. Witnesses of love for Christ and the Church, witnesses of listening and dialogue, witnesses of gratuitous and generous service, witnesses of prayer. Thank you for your presence alongside young people: for the time and care you dedicate to them.