Pope receives members of Pontifical Commission for Latin America
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the members of the Pontifical Commission for
Latin America on Friday. Founded in 1958 to offer advice and assistance to the particular
Churches in Latin America, the Commission operates under the Congregation for Bishops.
Members have been in Plenary Assembly this week to discuss the theme: Educational
Emergency and the Transmission of the Faith to Latin American Youth.
In remarks
delivered to the members on Friday in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace
in the Vatican, Pope Francis addressed the topic under their consideration through
the key of the Gospel story of Jesus and the rich young man. Listen:
The Holy Father
went on to say that a welcoming disposition is prior to any act of teaching. “Christ
stopped, looked with affection, with love, on [the young man],” he said, adding, “The
Lord puts himself in each person’s situation, even those who reject him.” Noting the
many grave difficulties that young people in Latin America often face, such as school
failure , unemployment , loneliness , bitterness in broken families, Pope Francis
said, “We are asked not to abandon young people,” but to help foster in them a sense
of their own dignity, and help them feel loved and included.
This welcoming
disposition, however, does not exclude genuine dialogue with young people. “Jesus
engaged in a frank and cordial dialogue with the young man,” said Pope Francis. “He
listened to his concerns and clarified them in the light of Sacred Scripture.”
Finally,
Christ invites the young man to follow Him. “Go, sell all that you have…and come follow
me,” said Pope Francis, quoting the words of Our Lord to the rich youth. “These words,”
he added, “have not lost their timeliness.” He called on the members of the Commission
to help young people become friends of Christ.
“Dear brothers,” concluded
Pope Francis, “young people are counting on us. Let us not disappoint them.”