Pope to young people: See you in Rio

Pope Francis toured around St. Peter's Square and greeted pilgrims after  presiding the Palm Sunday celebration on March 24. (Photo: Vatican Radio Facebook Page)

Pope Francis has announced his attendance to the 14^th international World Youth Day celebration set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July this year.

Addressing the youth among the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims present during the Palm Sunday celebration in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said he is set to go to Brazil for the World Youth Day celebrations following the footsteps of his two predecessors— Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

“I will see you in that great city in Brazil! Prepare well – prepare spiritually above all – in your communities, so that our gathering in Rio may be a sign of faith for the whole world,” the pope declared.

In his homily, the pope lauded the enthusiasm of the young in living their Christian faith, saying adults can learn a lot from their examples.

  

“You bring us the joy of faith and you tell us that we must live the faith with a young heart, always, even at the age of seventy or eighty,” the pope said.

Praising the youth’s fervor in sharing and living the faith, the pontiff said the young truly understood that only by giving oneself in loving service that one can find true joy.

He noted the young people’s devotion in carrying the pilgrim Cross across continents in response to Jesus’ call to “make disciples of all nations.”

“You carry it so as to tell everyone that on the Cross Jesus knocked down the wall of enmity that divides people and nations, and he brought reconciliation and peace,” the Holy Father said.

Young people have to proclaim the message of the good news of Jesus to all in the world, the pope continued.

"It is good to follow Jesus, it is good to go with Jesus, the message of Jesus is good, it is good to come out of ourselves, from the edges of existence of the world and to bring Jesus to others!" he said. (CBCPNews)