Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) - On the path of the preparation for the Synod of Bishops dedicated to young people, which will be held in October, the so-called "Pre-Synod" took place from 19 to 24 March, attended by some 300 young people from all over the world, not only Catholics, but also from other Christian and other religions confessions, and even atheists.
One of the participants was Davi Rodrigues da Silva, National Secretary of the Youth Pastoral of Brazil, a country where, according to him, "the first challenge young people face is to survive: young people in Brazil are exterminated every day because they belong to an age group with the highest index of homicides suffered".
This is a reality for which "the young Christian must be a sign of hope", says Davi Rodrigues to Agenzia Fides, recognizing that within the process proposed for the Synod, "the young Brazilians are deeply committed to responding to the questions that were proposed to dioceses all over the world". In this sense, the Pope's attitude stands out because "it opens to the possibility that every person, especially the young, can share and say what he thinks through the Internet".
Commenting on the meeting at the Vatican, which he participated with four other young Brazilians, Rodrigues da Silva said he was able "to bring the contributions and reflections of over 45 years of youth pastoral activity in Brazil, showing the different realities in which the Church is present as a privileged meeting place with the Master". "We are called to be in those places – says to Fides the National Secretary of Brazilian Youth Pastoral - to discover ourselves more and more missionary disciples, announcers of a world of justice and fraternity".
According to the young Brazilian, the Synod must lead to assume an attitude that is current in the Latin American Church of the post-Council, that of "being with young people", in a close relationship, avoiding clerical and power attitudes "that do not allow to recognize in young people the potential for dialogue that exists in them".
Finally, referring to Pope Francis, with whom they met during these days, he affirms that "his figure is a profoundly close figure, which motivates us, which encourages us to be young and daring, able to make this option for the marginalized and to recognize in them the seed of the Kingdom", concludes Da Silva. (LMM) (Agenzia Fides, 27/03/2018)
