(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 07.31.2024).- In a momentous event, Pope Francis welcomed around 50,000 altar servers from across Europe to the Vatican on Tuesday, July 30. This was the first gathering of its kind in six years, offering young participants a profound sense of belonging within the global Catholic Church and the chance to explore the historic city of Rome.
The majority of attendees hailed from German-speaking countries, influencing the event’s proceedings. Prayers and songs were predominantly in German, and the Pope’s catechesis was translated into the language. Pope Francis even addressed the crowd in German, reminiscing about his time in Germany during the 1980s.
The event kicked off at 4:00 PM with a vibrant program of songs and prayers, allowing young altar servers to share their experiences with peers from different nations. The atmosphere was electric as Pope Francis arrived earlier than expected at 5:40 PM, greeted by enthusiastic applause and a sea of colorful pilgrim caps. Despite being on his summer break, the Pope made a special effort to join this significant gathering.
In his catechesis, Pope Francis reflected on the theme of the 13th altar servers’ pilgrimage: “With Him.” He emphasized that serving in the liturgy highlights God as the central figure of this “with Him.” Quoting Jesus, he reminded the youth, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” This presence, he stressed, is fully realized in the Eucharist, where God becomes tangible in the body and blood of Christ.
The Pope encouraged the young participants to embody the “with Him” of Jesus in their everyday lives, urging them to love and serve others without prejudice or exclusion. He called on them to empathize deeply, to cry with those who cry and to rejoice with those who rejoice, fostering genuine and heartfelt connections. “Thanks to Jesus, we can tell our neighbor: ‘I am with you,’ not just with words, but with actions and from the heart,” he said.
Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the young altar servers for their dedication and for making the pilgrimage to Rome to celebrate their faith. “Thank you, dear young friends. Have a good journey with Jesus!” he concluded in German, highlighting the significance of their role as bearers of Christ’s love and healers of wounded hearts.
This historic encounter not only strengthened the faith and sense of community among the young European altar servers but also underscored their vital role in the Church and the wider world.
Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.
