Dear Young People,

On 1987, Pope visited Argentina,  the host of the second WYD and the first one outside Rome´s walls. The chosen theme for that first WYD was: “As we know the love God has for us and we trust in this love” (1Jo 4,16). After twenty five years, WYD is back in Latin America, here in Rio de Janeiro.

His message then, Beatified John Paul II reminded Latin America that it is a continent of hope, because of the amount of catholic young people. He also had recalled a preferential option for young people, proclaimed in Puebla de los Ángeles, Mexico.

That WYD main purpose was to prepare young people, that nowadays are adults, to be new millennium apostles. WYD’s purpose is to allow young people to have enthusiasm and experience  God´s love and joy that bring them to union and solidarity. Pope John Paul 11 said, “You, young people, are in the world but don´t belong to the world. Your hearts look to Heaven. However, it doesn´t mean sectariasm or exclusivism.

Nobody is saved by himself, alone. The fact that you fell touched by God and invited to a more committal life, doesn´t mean that you should reject the ones that doesn´t know Christ and doesn´t want to do it.”He is our peace, came to bring us unity. Uniting two worlds through love. The Cross is the throne from where he governs. And make Heaven and Earth touch themselves. Natural and supernatural. Immanent and transcendent (cf. Ef 2, 14-15). The sin is one´s absolutization, selfishness. It is  to close oneself to other people. For this reason, faith is personal and in commune. It requires both dimensions. However, be an elected people is not to close oneself on self “supposed” chastity, facing a “dirty” world.”

Remember that we are all sinners. And if we hadn´t had divine mercy, we would be lost. For this reason, young people, faith living radicalism means to root our lifes in love, justice and peace, that are other Christ names. This is a saint distinguishing mark, to be extremely hard with oneself but light with other ones. Without agreeing to sin, is to able to always offer help to rise a brother. We can´t be the ones that have stones on our hands but we must be at Christ side.

Our faith grows from a divine and human otherness. Only meeting with Absolute Other, we will be able to find our real “us”, and will look to our brothers with love that is proper to christianism. Our goal is to build bridges because there are a lot of walls.

WYD theme in Argentina was the first  to talk about having more than an individualistic experience with Christ. It means that a personal meeting with Christ is never an individualistic experience. It is inspired and grew inside a community, that prays and intercedes for his sons. The Church intercedes on your behalf, young people, to make you able to live in love. Our faith arises and matures on Tradition and on Sacraments.

May we be lights that penetrate society into Christ spirit. May we be apostles of studies, work and family. Let´s walk together with parish community, pastoral and movements. Let´s bring the motion, the strength, dreams, ideals, enthusiasm and joy that distinguish us in the community.

Let´s trust in Christ and in His love. Don´t let us be seduced by a world´s illusion that only offers products and reduces every stuff. We are more, we are God´s sonsDon’t let injustices and evil present in the world, extinguish the fire we have in our hearts. Let´s trust in Christ who is always ahead. The history was not written in a direct way. Mercy evokes events and people that transforms historic course and bring a divine breathing to the world. Mercy evokes events and people that transforms historic course and bring a divine breathing to the world.

Let´s trust in Christ and be sure, in faith, that we had been chosen by God. We are part of a love project that runs in freedom. God needs young people. Don´t disappoint God. Let´s open our hearts through prayer, eucharistic and confession. Let´s allow our spiritual ears to be on God´s frequence and, then, notice Our Savior´s smaller desires.

The true WYD starts today in our hearts. It is an inside journey made with community holding hands through prayer and apostolate. Only in this perspective and in love and trust in Christ, WYD Rio 2103 won´t be reduced to only a few beautiful partition and superficial meeting days, that can be extinghished by the time. It will make no sense on all economic, material and volunteering efforts, if the focus wasn´t on  conversion of heart, that is needed by everybody.

For this reason, let´s pray for all youth and people that will participate in WYD Rio 2103, that they may bring prepared hearts, as a fruitful earth able to produce lots of fruits and fruits that last.

† Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist.

 Rio de Janeiro Saint Sebastian Metropolitan Archbishop, RJ