Pope Francis has released his annual message for the diocesan-level World Youth Day, an exhortation to young people and an invitation to the next international WYD, which will be held in Lisbon in 2023.
The theme of the message is “Stand up. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen." (cf. Acts 26:16)
In it, the Holy Father reflects on the conversion of St. Paul, giving a brief lesson on prayer, and noting that to be a Christian, as Paul learned, is to be united to the Church that Jesus founded.
Saul asks: “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 26:15) This question is decisive, and sooner or later all of us have to ask it. It is not enough to hear other people speak about Jesus; we need to speak to him ourselves, personally. Deep down, this is what prayer is all about. Prayer means talking directly with Jesus, even though our heart may still be confused and our mind full of doubts or even contempt for Christ and Christians. I pray that every young person, in the depths of his or her heart, will eventually ask the question: “Who are you, Lord?”
The Lord immediately replies: “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (ibid.).
Pope Francis also took St. Paul's experience to reflect on the call of God to each Christian. He noted how Jesus had undoubtedly been calling Saul to him for some time, but Saul had resisted.
By choosing Saul, someone who was persecuting him, "We see that, in God's eyes, no one is lost," the Pope continued. "Thanks to a personal encounter with him, we can always start over again. No young person is ever beyond the reach of God’s grace and mercy. Of no one can we say: He’s too far gone… It’s too late…"
Many young people passionately rebel, the Pope said, and we can imagine young Saul being "full of himself." With Jesus' revelation, Saul is blinded, but it is then that he begins to see.
Pope Francis reflected that Paul's passion and strength are familiar to young people, but like Paul, we can be prevented from seeing things rightly.
Francis urged young people to listen to Christ's voice, as Paul did.
The Pope's message continues with a series of exhortations, calling on young people: “Arise and bear witness!”
