LEDNICA, Poland, JUNE 9, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is appealing to young people to choose Christ in a message sent to some 80,000 participants in an annual youth gathering in Lednica on Sunday.
The Pope’s message was sent to Archbishop Henryk Muszynski of Gniezno, the archdiocese that encompasses Lednica, traditionally recognized as the site where the country’s ruler first embraced Christianity in 966 leading to the «baptism of Poland.»
The Pontiff called on youth to be witnesses of the love of Christ in all areas of life, including their schools and universities, Vatican Radio reported Sunday.
He stated, «Choose Christ so that in each moment of your life — whether happy or difficult — you will have the interior certainty that he sustains you with the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.»
The Holy Father also affirmed that Christian youth are called to renew the choice for Jesus as the «supreme value in life.»
This choice, he added, should continually become more «conscious, mature and responsible.»
Benedict XVI recalled his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who was for the youth of the world «an incomparable guide» and continues being a source of inspiration.
Last Wednesday, in the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope gave a special greeting to the youth who were traveling from Rome to the Lednica gathering, encouraging them to be united with Christ through Baptism and to choose him «consciously as the way and the goal of life’s journey.»
The Lednica youth gatherings have been taking place since 1997.
