Feeling loved is necessary to live, says Pope to Catholic boys and girls

December 20, 2012: Feeling loved is necessary to live, but it is equally important to be able to love others, to make better the lives of everyone, even of your peers who are in difficult situations, said Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday while meeting a large number of boys and girls from ACR – the Italian Catholic Action group.

Reflecting on their tagline "in search of an author", the Pontiff asked them: Who is this author? And whether they have already found him? Pope Benedict said he knows that they seek the author of life, who would help them live a happy life. This author is God, said the Pope adding that God has shown us his face. God created us, made us in his image, gave us His Son Jesus, who became a child - has grown as a boy like you, hit the streets of our world to communicate God's love. This love of God creates beautiful and happy life, full of kindness and generosity.

The Pope said ‘certainly you are looking for the author of your joy, but if I were to ask what gives you joy, your answer may be: games, sports, friends, parents, who live for you and love you. There are many who make you happy, but there is a great friend who is the author of the joy of all with whom our heart is filled with a joy that surpasses all others, and that lasts for life: Jesus’ the Pontiff reminded the boys and girls.

He told them “as you learn to know and converse with Him, the more you will feel happy in your heart and you will be able to overcome small sorrows that are sometimes in the soul.

The Pope also told them that they are in search of the author of love. You cannot live on your own, closed in on yourselves. We all need to love and to feel that someone accepts us and loves us. Jesus showed us with his life that God loves everyone without distinction and wants everyone to live happily ever after. The Pontiff recalled their initiative in January to support a project in Egypt, which was of real assistance to street children.

Finally, you seek definitely the author of peace, which the world so desperately needs. Often people think they can build peace alone, but it is important to understand that it is God who can give us true and solid peace. If you know how to listen, if we make room in our lives, God melts selfishness that often pollute the relationships between people and between nations, and gives rise to desires for reconciliation, forgiveness and peace, even in those whose hearts are hardened, the Pope added.

If you help one another to find the great Author of life, joy, love and peace, you will discover that this author is never far from you, in fact, he is very close, the Pope added.