ANGELUS ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Campus Misericordiae - Kraków
Sunday, 31 July 2016
Sunday, 31 July 2016
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| PHOTO: agensir.it |
At the conclusion of this
celebration, I join all of you in thanking God, the Father of infinite mercy,
for allowing us to experience this World Youth Day. I thank Cardinal
Dziwisz and Cardinal Ryłko, who have been indefatigable in their efforts to
make this Day possible, as too, for the prayers which have accompanied the
preparations for this event; I also thank all those who have contributed to its
successful outcome. A big word of thanks goes to you, dear young
people! You filled Krakow with the contagious enthusiasm of your
faith. Saint John Paul II has rejoiced from heaven, and he will help you
spread the joy of the Gospel everywhere.
In these days, we have
experienced the beauty of our universal fraternity in Christ, the centre and
hope of our lives. We have heard his voice, the voice of the Good
Shepherd who dwells in our midst. He has spoken to each of you in your
heart. He has renewed you by his love and he has shown you the light of
his forgiveness, the power of his grace. He has made you experience the
reality of prayer. These days have given you a spiritual “breath of fresh
air” that will help you live lives of mercy once you return to your own
countries and communities.
Here, beside the altar, is the
image of the Virgin Mary venerated by Saint John Paul II in the shrine of
Kalwaria. Mary, our Mother, teaches us how we can make our experience
here in Poland be productive. She tells us to do what she did: not to
squander the gift you have received, but to treasure it in your heart so it can
grow and bear fruit, with the help of the Holy Spirit. In this way, each
of you, for all your limitations and failings, can be a witness to Christ
wherever you live: at home, in your parishes, in your associations and groups,
and your places of study, work, service, entertainment… wherever God’s
providence will lead you.
God’s providence is always one
step ahead of us. Think: it has already determined the next stop in this
great pilgrimage begun in 1985 by Saint John Paul II! So now I am happy
to announce that the next World Youth Day – after the two that will be held on
the diocesan level – will take place in 2019 in Panama.
I invite the Bishops of Panama
to approach, and to join me in giving the blessing.
Trusting in the intercession
of Mary, let us ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten and sustain the journey of
young people in the Church and in the world, and make you disciples and
witnesses to God’s mercy.
And now let us recite together
the Angelus prayer…
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