TO YOUNG PEOPLE: LET THE CROSS BE YOUR SCHOOL OF WISDOM

VATICAN CITY, MAR 24, 2002 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Square the Pope presided at the solemn Palm Sunday Mass which was celebrated by his vicar general, Cardinal Camillo Ruini. Thousands of young people from Rome and other places attended to celebrate the 17th World Youth Day at the diocesan level.

Before Mass, the Pope blessed the olive branches and subsequently the procession took place from the obelisk toward the altar situated in front of St. Peter's basilica. The Holy Father did not take part in the procession due to persistant arthritic pain in his right knee.

In his homily, John Paul II emphasized that the cross was the center of today's liturgy. "You, beloved young people, with your attentive and enthusiastic participation in this solemn celebration, demonstrate that you are not ashamed of the cross. Do not fear Christ's cross. Rather, love it and venerate it because it is the sign of the Redeemor who died and rose from the dead for us."

"The narration of the Passion highlights Christ's fidelity in contrast to human infidelity. ... Man's true strength is found in the fidelity with which he is able to give testimony to the truth, resisting pleasures and threats, misunderstandings and blackmail which may even entail cruel and merciless persecution." As a result, he added, "only if you are willing to do this, you will be what Jesus expects of you, that is, the 'salt of the earth' and 'light of the world'," which is the theme of World Youth Day.

The Holy Father urged young people not to lose "the flavor of being Christians, the flavor of the Gospel. Keep it alive, meditating on the paschal mystery constantly: let the Cross be your school of wisdom. Do not boast of anything else except this sublime subject of truth and love."

"That person whom you have chosen as Teacher," he concluded, "is neither a vendor of illusions, nor a powerful person of this world, nor an astute and clever debater. You know who you have chosen to follow: Christ crucified and resurrected! Christ Who died for us and rose from the dead for us."

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