Pope urges young people to find joy in Christ

(March 28, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI has called on young people not to pursue power, money and prestige, but to find true joy in Christ, and live a life of generous service to others. In his message for World Youth Day 2012, released by the Vatican on Tuesday , the theme of which is “Rejoice in the Lord”, the pontiff told the world's young Catholics to start making the world a better, more just and humane place right now, even while they continue to pursue their studies and interests. The Pope said “ Do not be content in giving the minimum. In these difficult times, so many young people need to hear the Christian message of joy and hope, and the world needs men and women who are competent and generous, willing to be at the service of the common good.
The Pope stressed that the Catholic Church’s vocation is to bring joy to the world, a joy that is authentic and enduring. “Our present-day culture”, he said often pressures us to seek immediate goals and pleasures. It fosters fickleness, more than perseverance, hard work and fidelity to commitments. But experience teaches that possessions do not ensure happiness. The Pope told the young people that God loves us and wants us to be happy, that is why He gave people specific directions -- the Ten Commandments to help us follow the right path in life. At first glance , he said, they might seem to be a list of prohibitions and an obstacle to our freedom, but if studied more closely, we see that the commandments are a set of essential and valuable rules leading to a happy life in accordance with God’s plan. Stressing that God never abandons anyone and in his mercy always offers sinners the possibility of redemption, the Pope urged the young people to have frequent recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He also told the young people that if Jesus asks them to follow him and stake their whole life on him, not to be afraid to risk their lives by making space for Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
The Vatican and most dioceses around the world will mark World Youth Day on Palm Sunday, April 1. International celebrations of World Youth Day are normally held every two to three years. The next International World Youth Day is set for 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.