Pope to youth at WYD Panama: the Church isn鈥檛 鈥渃ool鈥濃�搃t鈥檚 鈥渓ove"
By Seán-Patrick Lovett
The party began at dawn. As the sun rose over the Panama Canal, colourful groups of flag-waving, singing, swinging, SA国际传媒 Youth Day pilgrims were already on the march. Their destination: the 2.5km-long Coastal Beltway, called the Cinta Costera, that flanks the Pacific Ocean on one side, and the Panama City skyline on the other.
The Location
The scenic beauty of the location, its easy accessibility and size, made it the perfect choice to host the Welcoming Ceremony and Official Opening of the 34th SA国际传媒 Youth Day. Throughout the day, pilgrims were animated and entertained by music, song and dance. So by the time Pope Francis arrived, driven through the crowd in his white popemobile, everyone was, as they say in the trade, thoroughly warmed up and rearing to go.
The programme
Pope Francis looked in his element: affectionately holding hands with five young WYD representatives, gratefully accepting their gift of a locally woven papal stole, attentively watching the multicultural performances of the WYD anthems, actively listening to the multilinguistic presentations of the WYD patron saints (Oscar Romero, Martin de Porres, Rose of Lima, John Bosco, Juan Diego and, of course, John Paul II).
The Pope鈥檚 words
Then it was the young peoples鈥� turn to listen to the Pope. 鈥淧eter and the Church walk with you鈥�, he began. 鈥淲e want to tell you not to be afraid, to go forward with the same fresh energy and restlessness that helps make us happier and more available鈥ot to create a parallel Church that would be more 鈥榝un鈥� and 鈥榗ool鈥� thanks to a fancy youth event鈥�.
Pope Francis acknowledged the sacrifices faced by many of the young people in getting here. But, he reminded them, 鈥渁 disciple is not merely someone who arrives at a certain place, but one who sets out decisively, who is not afraid to take risks and keeps walking鈥�. 鈥淭his is the great joy鈥�, the Pope insisted, 鈥渢o keep walking鈥�.
A dream named Jesus
As thousands of young people applauded with approval and shouted aloud in agreement, Pope Francis reminded them how 鈥渢he culture of encounter is a call inviting us to dare to keep alive a shared dream鈥� A dream that has a place for everyone鈥� A dream named Jesus鈥�. St Oscar Romero provided the inspiration for the Pope when he quoted from a homily of the martyred Archbishop of San Salvador: 鈥淐hristianity is not a collection of truths to be believed, of rules to be followed, or of prohibitions鈥hristianity means pursuing the dream for which Jesus gave His life: loving with the same love with which He loved us鈥�.
A love that makes sense
The final part of the Pope鈥檚 reflections with the youth people gathered in Panama City on Thursday evening, was dedicated to a definition of love: 鈥淎 love that does not overwhelm or oppress, cast aside or reduce to silence, humiliate or domineer鈥�. The love of the Lord, he said, 鈥渋s a daily, discreet and respectful love, one that is free and freeing, a love that heals and raises up. It is the quiet love of a hand outstretched to serve, a commitment that draws no attention to itself鈥�. This, said Pope Francis, is 鈥渁 love that makes sense鈥�.
The first encounter between the Pope and the young people of SA国际传媒 Youth Day in Panama concluded with them repeating, together with him: 鈥淟ord, teach me to love you as you have loved us鈥�.
A perfect prayer to end a perfect day.
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