World Youth Day in Rio: What do you remember?

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has left the city of Rio, ending his first internatinal apostolic trip. Sean-Patrick Lovett followed the trip for Vatican Radio in Rio, and sent us his final reflections.

So this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Time for the famous last words. The final wrap. The concluding comments (in 120 seconds or 400 words, or less). I could wow you with spectacular word-play. I could woo you with semantic effects. Instead I shall do neither. What’s the point? You saw the pictures, you watched the videos, you read the articles, you heard the reports (at least I hope you did). So everything you ever needed to know about the 28^th World Youth Day in Rio you already know.
But what do you remember?
Throngs of flag-waving, chanting, cheering, singing, praying, young people extending for as far as the eye can see? A motorcade moving slowly through a vibrating, pulsating mass of humanity while a smiling Pope gestures, waves, and dispenses blessings to left and right? All this against one of the most breathtakingly beautiful natural backdrops in the world: the beach of Copacabana and the mountain of Corcovado. And of course you remember the babies – babies and more babies, being kissed and cuddled and caressed by the Pope. But maybe you were paying particular attention and you also recall a visit to a slum and a hospital and a meeting with young prisoners and a prayer vigil and a papal pilgrimage to a Marian shrine…
But do you remember what he said?
“Promote justice and dialogue to hear the cry of the poor”, “Serve the community and a culture of encounter”, “Christ shares the crosses we carry in our lives”, “Is ours a Church that can still warm hearts?”, “Grandparents are important: the aged and the young build the future together”, “Faith isn’t a fruit-salad: don’t water it down”, “The Church is close to those suffering from addictions”, “Christian hope means being surprised by God”, “We cannot be part of a throwaway culture”, “Ours is a revolutionary Faith”, “Those who don’t go to Church are the VIP’s invited to the Lord’s table”, “We must learn how to embrace those in need”, “Jesus asks us to play on his team”…
Should I continue or is it all coming back to you now? The words and messages of Pope Francis at the 28^th World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Because, when all is said and done, the only famous last words that really matter…are these.

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