Vatican
City, 9 June 2013 (VIS) – Yesterday at 8:30pm, the Holy Father
called Bishop Giancarlo Vecerrica of Fabriano-Matelica, who was
together with thousands of youth in the Helvia Recina Stadium before
the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., to initiate the
35th pilgrimage on foot from Macerata to Loreto. This year the theme
of the pilgrimage is “What can truly satisfy human desire?” and
it is promoted by the Communion and Liberation movement.
Pope
Francis addressed the youth, from Italy and around the world, who
were about to walk the 28 kilometres (over 17 miles) praying the
Rosary and singing together. “All of life is a pilgrimage,” said
the Pope. “What is important is meeting Jesus on the path of life.
… Let yourselves be guided by Jesus. … So many times, even for
us, faith is an obvious presupposition of living. We say 'I believe
in God'—and that's good—but, how do you live this on the path of
life? Faith must become a present experience.”
“When
we encounter the Lord,” the Holy Father continued, “He surprises
us. The Lord can be called the Lord of surprises. Be open to God's
surprises. For you too, this evening's event, which grows every year,
is a surprise. It is the sign that nothing is impossible with God.
How else could you explain that from the 300 of you in 1978 you would
have become the 90,000 of last year?”
“When
you get tired,” Francis added, “and the temptation to go your own
way arises, think of this: repeat your 'yes', pray that each one of
you might recognize in your body and your spirit the very humanity
that needs Christ's humanity, the only one that can truly satisfy
human desire.”
The
Holy Father bid them farewell, reminding the youth to continue
forward with hope. “Please,” he said, “don't let yourselves be
robbed of hope. It is the Lord who gives it to you.”
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