Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – According to custom, on December 20, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received a group of youth representing Italy's Catholic Action (A.C.R.), in an audience to wish them a blessed Christmas. “Many say that young people are capricious, that nothing satisfies them, that they are consumed by games, one after the other, without ever being content,” the Pope told the youth. “But you say to Jesus: you are enough for me! This means: You are our best friend, who is with us when we play and when we go to school, when we are at home with our parents, our grandparents, our little brothers and sisters and when we go out with our friends. You open our eyes so we can see how our friends are sad, and how many children of the world suffer from hunger, sickness and war. You give us true joy, joy that never ends, like our games do. You come into our souls and make us good.”
Then, Benedict XVI mentioned how the youth of ACR have “a big heart that is attentive to the needs of others,” and the instructors help them to get along with one another, to pray and grow in their knowledge of the Gospel, as Catholic Action's goal is to help the youth to become saints: “that is why it encourages you to meet Jesus, and to love His Church and take interest in the world's problems.” At the end of his address, the Pope addressed the youth with this invitation: “you can pray to the Lord that he will change the hearts of those who make weapons, bring terrorists to their senses, convert the heart of those who think always of war and help humanity to build a better future for all the children of the world. I am also sure that you pray for me, thus helping me in the difficult task that the Lord has entrusted to me.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 22/12/2008)
