Vatican City - Pope Francis on youth: “be free and authentic, be the critical conscience of society.” On the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, he urges young people, “Don’t be afraid to criticize! We need your criticism”. As Bishop of Rome, he celebrates the 36th World Diocesan Youth Day at St. Peter Basilic on November 21, 2021. For the first time, World Youth Day is being celebrated together in all diocese around the world.
Today, on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, as Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis celebrates Diocesan youth day together with the youth of the diocese of Rome at St. Peter Basilic. He asks the young people to reflect on the two biblical images: The first is described in words, “He is coming with the clouds” (Rev 1:7; Dan 7:13). The second image is from the Gospel: Christ, who stands before Pilate and tells him: “I am a king” (Jn 18:37).
It is pervasive that people, including the youth, may suffer in their life. They may live in the night vision. But in the night visions, Pope Francis reminds us that “God also comes in the night, amid the often dark clouds that gather over our life. We all know such moments. We need to be able to recognize him, to look beyond the night, to lift our gaze in order to see him amid the gloom”.
Regarding the second image, Jesus says to Pilate: “I am a king.” We are struck by Jesus’ determination, his courage, his supreme freedom. In Jesus’ freedom, we can find the courage to swim against the current, “against the unhealthy current of our own selfishness, closed-mindedness and rigidity, that often seeks like-minded groups to survive”. It helps young people to avoid themselves being an “equilibrist’ than a Christian.
Despite being a balance-equilibrist, Pope Francis encourages all the young people around the world “to be free and authentic, be the critical conscience of society. Don’t be afraid to criticize! We need your criticism … We need this! Be free in criticism”.
Today, all young people worldwide are celebrating the 36th WYD in the dioceses. This is a pre-celebration towards 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal. It is also a sign of synodal Church who is in “camminare insieme”; an essential aspect of the Church.
Pope Francis has released his message for the 2021 Diocesan WYD under the theme: “Arise. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen” (Acts 26:16). Weather in pandemic time, we are all called to be “the light of the world”, as well as young people. By the baptism, as Pope Francis recalls, “the Lord gives us an important and life-changing mission: “You are to be my witness!”
To arise and testify is inevitable action in being a Christ disciple. Pope Francis also encourages us to hear the exact words Christ speaks to you that he said to Paul: “Arise! Do not remain downcast or caught up in yourself: a mission awaits you! You too can testify to what Jesus has begun to accomplish in your lives.
[Salam Misioner/RDHJ2021]
Full Text
Messaggio del Santo Padre Francesco per la XXXVI Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù (Solennità di Cristo Re, 21 Novembre 2021), 27.09.2021
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/09/27/0605/01290.html#en
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS, Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – Sunday, 21 November 2021