MESSAGE TO YOUTH OF ITALIAN CATHOLIC ACTION

VATICAN CITY, DEC 10, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the Holy Father to young people of Italian Catholic Action who took part in a conference in Rome from December 7 to 9.

In the message, which is dated December 8, the Pope tells the young people: "Have no hesitation (in following Christ) in a school of sanctity, one renewed by the spirituality and ecclesial commitment specific to Catholic Action."

"Today I would like to reiterate the invitation I made at Tor Vergata: You are and must ever more be the morning guards of the dawn of the new millennium. Even though at the beginning of this century - overshadowed unfortunately by terrorism, fear and war - the invitation may seem to require too great a commitment, it nonetheless remains valid. Today more than ever, in order to be the morning guards of the new millennium, you must be saints!"

John Paul II calls on the young people to have ever more love for "the word of Christ. Know how to listen to, understand, deepen, love and, above all, live (that word). Let yourselves be guided in this by the true masters of faith."

"Christ will take you wherever there is pain to be alleviated, solidarity to be expressed, joy to be celebrated; in the fatigue of study and work, in the enjoyment of leisure time, in family life and in the overly-long wait for a future that often comes about only with difficulty."

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