The The International Youth Conference is a mission which inspires hope hope for humanity, for the Church, and for youth. In this Jubilee year, Pope Francis setting the theme, has called us to be pilgrims of hope. The Scripture, which is the theme of Power 2025, reminds us Christ in you is the source of hope.
As we consider this calling, there are a few questions I present to you. 1. Who are you? 2. What do you live for? 3. How should you live?
God created us “in his image” (Gen 1:27). We have an immortal soul. Our goal Jesus reveals through this promise, “”In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places… I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn 14:1-3). Our ultimate purpose is to be with Jesus in the house of the Father.
How do we get there? To the same query posed by the disciple Thomas, Jesus replied, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). There is no hope or salvation except through Him. he is the heart of our hope.
The Lord reminds us that this passage involves struggle. “Enter through the narrow gate… For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life” (Mat 7:13,14). When we look at the logo of the Jubilee year, we see four human figures in different colours in the foreground. They are pilgrims of hope. They are wading through agitated waves. The way to glory is the way of the cross. They have problems, but are holding on to the Cross. As pilgrims of hope, we should anchor our life in Jesus Christ, in the cross, and in the glory of resurrection.
My request to you, is to be pilgrims of hope, but more importantly, to be agents of hope. You have to give hope to others, especially to the Church, to your families, to your society, and pass it on to the next generation.
For this, we must be missionaries proclaiming the gospel. We do this in the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that Jesus sends His Spirit through the love of the Father in such a way that you may be pilgrims of hope, and more than that, agents of hope.