Prior to leaving Cagliari after his Apostolic Visit, Pope Francis met with youth from the Sardinian city, calling on them to not sell their youth to the “merchants of death.”
“Trust in Jesus”, he continued, “and when I say this, I want to be sincere and say to you: I do not come here to sell you an illusion. I come here to say: there is a Person who can carry you through: trust in Him!,” he said.
Difficulties in life, he continued, must not cause fear but rather push one to overcome them. The Holy Father exhorted the youth to follow Christ, which brings us to aim high, with courage.
“When it seems that all is still and stagnant, when personal problems disturb us, social unease does not find the necessary solutions, we must not give up,” the Pope said. “The path is Jesus: let him embark with us and let us set out to sea with Him! Everything changes with Jesus.”
“Without making too many human calculations and without worrying if the reality around you corresponds to that about which you are sure. Set out to sea, come out of yourselves; let us come out from our little world and open ourselves to God, so that we might be ever more open to our brothers.”
The Pope, who celebrated his 60th anniversary of his priestly vocation, told the youth that he never regretted his decision.
“After many years have passed with some successes, of joy but also many years of failures, of frailty, of sing…60 years on the path of the Lord, behind Him, next to Him, always with Him.”
The Holy Father concluded his address, by encouraging the youth to follow the example of those from Sardinia who led saintly lives, saying that no saint is born a saint, rather they become saints by entrusting themselves to the Word of the Lord.
“Imitate their example, entrust yourselves to their intercession and always be men and women of hope!” the Pope exclaimed.
