International Youth Day
The 12th of August the world commemorates the International Youth Day. And for this year, pope Francis has chosen the message of the prophet Isaiah as its main theme: “Those who hope in the Lord will run and not be weary” (Is 40:31). As he explains in a letter sent to mark the occasion:
As young people, you are indeed the joyful hope of the Church and of a humanity always on the move. I would like to take you by the hand and walk with you on the path of hope. I would like to speak with you about our joys and hopes, but also of our sorrows and concerns, and those of all our brothers and sisters in the human family (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 1). In these two years of preparation for the Jubilee, we will meditate first on Saint Paul’s words, “Rejoicing in hope” (Rom 12:12), and then those of the prophet Isaiah, “Those who hope in the Lord will run and not be weary”
Dear young people, do not be afraid to share with others the hope and joy of the risen Christ! Nurture the spark that has been kindled in you, but at the same time share it. You will come to realize that it grows by being given away! We cannot keep our Christian hope to ourselves, like a warm feeling, because it is meant for everyone. Stay close in particular to your friends who may be smiling on the outside but are weeping within, for lack of hope. Do not let yourselves be infected by indifference and individualism. Remain open, like canals in which the hope of Jesus can flow and spread in all the areas where you live.
Let us entrust our lives entirely to Mary, Mother of Hope. She teaches us how to carry Jesus, our joy and hope, within our hearts and to share him with others. Dear friends, may you enjoy every step of the journey you are making! I bless you and I accompany you with my prayers. And I ask you, please, to pray for me.
XXXVIII World Youth Day, 2023: “Rejoicing in Hope” (Rom 12:12) | Francis (vatican.va)