Pope says future hopes lie with youth

(January 02, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday, New Year's Day, praised young people as key to securing a future of hope despite what he called “shadows on the horizon of today's world.” In the splendour of St. Peter's Basilica, with ambassadors to the Holy See from dozens of countries seated in the front rows, the pontiff, wearing white and gold vestments, celebrated the first Mass of 2012 on the day the Catholic Church celebrates World Day of Peace. New Year’s Day is also the liturgical feast of the Mother of God. Speaking in his homily the Pope said, “in the face of the shadows that obscure the horizon of today's world, to assume responsibility for educating young people in knowledge of the truth, in fundamental values and virtues, is to look to the future with hope.” Pope Benedict said young people must use advances in communications technology to promote peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, dialogue and understanding. The Pope’s homily echoed his message for the 45th World Day of Peace released earlier on Dec. 16, on the theme, “Educating young people in justice and peace.”
The 84-year-old Benedict looked tired during Mass, but his voice was strong, and he smiled and chatted briefly with families and young children who carried gifts to him during the ceremony. He seemed amused by one pacifier-sucking infant as the parents kneeled before the Pope. Since October, Pope Benedict has been using a wheeled platform, guided by ushers, to move down the basilica's long aisle between entrance and main altar. The Vatican has said the device is meant only to cut down on exertion, but did not indicate the Pope is sick.
After Mass, in remarks in English from his studio window overlooking a packed St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict invited all to pray with him “earnestly for peace throughout the world, for reconciliation and forgiveness in areas of conflict, and for a more just and equitable distribution of the world's resources.'' In comments after his first midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with the people in the square, Pope Benedict once more expressed his concern for young people, saying they “look today with a certain apprehension toward the future,” with their concerns including ``the difficulty in starting a family and finding a stable job.'' Before the ‘Angelus’ prayer, the Pope spoke in Italian sharing his thoughts on New Year Day’s liturgical feast of the Mother of God, saying Mary “accepted the divine plan with humble abandonment.” “By her generous 'yes' the true light that enlightens every man appeared in the world and the path to peace was opened up to us once again," he said. The Pope then continued his reflection on the theme of the 45th World Day of Peace, "Educating young people in justice and peace." Citing excerpts from his message, the Pope expressed solidarity with today’s young people saying they “are experiencing apprehension about many things: they want to receive an education which prepares them more fully to deal with the real world, they see how difficult it is to form a family and to find stable employment; they wonder if they can really contribute to political, cultural and economic life in order to build a society with a more human and fraternal face'. The Holy Father urged them to have patience and perseverance to seek justice and peace and to cultivate a taste for what is right and true. “Peace is never a fully achieved a good, but a goal to which we all must aspire and for which we must all work." The Pope invited prayers that “despite the difficulties that sometimes make the path a difficult one, this profound aspiration be translated into concrete gestures of reconciliation, justice and peace.” He also urged for prayers for the leaders of nations to renew their commitment and willingness to accept and encourage this irrepressible yearning of humanity.