PAPAL MESSAGE FOR THE 16TH WORLD YOUTH DAY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul's Message for the 16th World Youth Day, which will be celebrated throughout the world in all dioceses on April 8, Palm Sunday, was published today.

At the start of his annual message for youth day, the Pope writes: "I still have before my eyes and in my heart the evocative sight of the great 'Door' on the field at Tor Vergata (University) in Rome. The evening of last August 19, at the start of the vigil of the 15th World Youth Day, I crossed that threshold, hand in hand with five young people from five continents." He adds that "the authentic fruits of the Jubilee of Youth cannot be calculated in statistics, but only in works of love and justice, of daily fidelity, very precious even though not very visible."

The Pope invites young people to reflect on the theme he has chosen for the 16th World Youth Day: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Jesus, states the Pope, asks each of us "to do what He Himself did. He says: 'I have not come to be served, but to serve; thus, who wishes to be like Me must serve everyone. ... In other words, Jesus asks (us) to courageously choose His same way. ... The determination to be, as far as possible, obedient as He was to the Father and ready to accept to the very end the plan that He has for each one, depends on us."

"Jesus," he continues, "does not ask us to give up living, but rather to welcome something new and a fullness of life that only He can give. ... True life, in fact, is expressed in the gift of giving oneself, fruit of the grace of Christ. ... The choice, therefore, is between being and having, between a full life and an empty existence, between the truth and lying."

After underscoring that "the Cross which is welcomed becomes the sign of love and of a total giving," he writes: "Carrying it behind Christ means uniting ourselves to Him in offering the greatest proof of love."

"The 'path of life'," which is "the path of the Cross," is "the path of salvation in a society often fragmented, confused and contradictory; it is the life of happiness of following Christ to the end, in the frequently dramatic circumstances of daily life; it is the path which does not fear failures, difficulties, being marginalized or alone, because it fills man's heart with the presence of Jesus; it is the path of peace, self-dominion, deep happiness in one's heart."

The Pope underlines that "a widespread culture of the ephemeral" can make one believe that "to be happy one must remove the Cross." Furthermore, he says, "sexuality not linked to a sense of responsibility, easy success and easy career advancement are presented as ideals." He urges young people "to open well your eyes; this is not the path that leads to life, but rather one which ends up in death."

"With your youth," the message concludes, "mark the third millennium which is starting with the hope and enthusiasm typical of your age. If you allow God's grace to work in you, if you do not fail in the seriousness of your daily commitments, you will make this new century a better time for everyone."

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