We are publishing the full text of the speech that Pope Leo XIV addressed to the young people of the diocese of Rome met on Saturday 10 January in the Vatican.
Greeting from the Holy Father to the young people before the meeting
We say goodbye from here. You will be able to follow a little on the screens. I go from here to the Paul VI Hall. You can listen a little… How I wish we could all be together, not only with the screen but personally, because it is in the meeting that we feel good.
And we get along well because we are all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, who is our best friend. Thanks for being here! I see that you have also come from other countries: welcome.
Well, I’ll move on then: thanks! Let us try together to truly live this spirit of friendship, of brotherhood, of being together, because we know that when we are united there is no difficulty that we cannot overcome.
Being alone, many times, is suffering. But when we are with friends, when we are with family, when we are with those who love us and who care about us, we can move forward. Always have this courage! And may Jesus always give you the faith, the ability to say: “Yes Lord, I follow you, I walk with you”. And we know that Jesus is always with us, always walks with us. God bless you!
Greetings from the Pope to those present at the Petriano
Welcome! But you Romans are truly brave and many of you came! Thank you, thank you all. I greet you now, then you can follow on the screen and we hope to see each other, but it is always better to see each other in person and not just on screens. It is true?
It is very important that we try to build human relationships, good friendships and above all friendship with Jesus. Best wishes to everyone. We will see each other later.
Speech by the Holy Father
We are not alone: the joy of meeting
Dear young people, welcome!
I also greet all those who are outside, in the cold, who are following our meeting with the schemes in the Square and outside the Holy Office. Truly, welcome everyone! I am very happy to be with you, to have this opportunity to share a little of this research, this desire to answer not only those questions we have just heard, but to many things in life.
I share with you that shortly before coming this evening I received a message from one of my nieces, also young, who said to me: “Uncle, how do you deal with so many problems in the world, with so many worries?” and asked the same question: “Don’t you feel alone? How do you carry on with everything?” And the answer, in large part, is you! Because we are not alone!
Afterwards I will tell you a little about what it means to come together and live this spirit, this enthusiasm, above all this faith even in difficult moments, when we feel alone, when we don’t know what to do. If we remember the beauty of faith, the beauty of joy, of being young, of being together, of searching together, we can truly know in our hearts that we are never alone, because Jesus is with us!
Shared pain and the strength of communion
And I would also like to say a word – Cardinal Baldo already told us: this sadness and pain that we have all experienced is truly great, for those 40 boys from Crans-Montana who lost their lives. We too must remember that life is so precious, that we can never forget those who suffer. Unfortunately those families, still in pain, must now seek how to overcome that pain. This is also why our prayer, our unity is important: we are always united, as friends, as brothers!
And a big greeting to all the priests and nuns who accompany us this afternoon. Thanks to you! Thanks so much!
Young people, witnesses of hope
As we recalled during the video, at the beginning, during the Holy Year we experienced a very strong moment, here in Rome, with thousands and thousands of your peers from all parts of the world. People of every language and culture united in the same prayer, raising joyful praise to God and earnestly asking for peace between peoples. Now, in this “your” appointment with the Pope, you young Romans renew the spirit of those memorable days, committing yourselves to be not only pilgrims of hope, but its witnesses. And how to really be? To propose an answer, here I respond a little to the words of Matteo, who highlighted the loneliness of many young people, together with the feelings of disappointment, bewilderment and boredom that accompany it. When this grayness clouds the colors of life, we see that we can be isolated even among many people.
A life of links without relationship or likes without affection disappoints us, because we are made for the truth: when it is missing, we suffer. We are made for good, but disposable pleasure masks betray our desire.
Created for relationship and enlightened by Christ
Yet in these moments of discouragement we can sharpen our sensitivity. If we listen and open our eyes, creation reminds us that we are not alone. The availability of nature is not enough for us, because we carry within us the image of God, which is a relationship of life, love and salvation.
So, when you feel alone, remember that God never leaves you. As He brings hope into your life, so you can share it with others. You will then find yourselves together as seekers of communion and brotherhood.
But many times loneliness exists and many suffer. Salvatore Quasimodo wrote: «Everyone is alone in the heart of the earth / pierced by a ray of sunshine: / and it is immediately evening». That ray is not a light that goes out, but it is the Sun of justice, Christ, who warms our heart and inflames it with his love.
Changing the world starting from the heart
It is from this encounter with Jesus that the strength to change lives and transform society comes. What you experience in parishes, oratories and associations cannot be kept to yourself. To change society we must first change ourselves. So we can change the world, so we can build a world of peace!
You asked me what I want for you: a good and true life, a holy and healthy life. Don’t be afraid to accept this responsibility. He who lives with God, the author and savior of life, truly lives.
Pray, live, love
Peace is the fruit of God’s love within us. Praying is the most concrete act to break the chains of boredom and indifference. God lights the fire when we encounter him in the Eucharist, in the Gospel, in the Psalms.
Mary Most Holy teaches us the joy of the Magnificat. It is not a question of superhuman efforts, but of living with Christ in the heart, listening to him as a Master and following him as a Shepherd.
Conclusion and blessing
Let us look at the saints: how free they are! The true good of life is given, because God gives it with love.
Thanks to all of you for coming! Thank you for loving this Church of Rome of ours with me. The Church of Rome is alive!
And now I bless all of you, your loved ones and your friends. Thank you!
Goodbye and have a good journey!
