Pope: ‘Hearts of young people are longing to discover Christ’s love’
By Devin Watkins
Pope Leo XIV held an audience on Saturday with participants in the Jesus Youth International Conference, marking the ecclesial association’s first meeting with the Successor of Peter.
In his address, the Pope expressed appreciation for the “special encounter,” which comes 40 years after the movement’s creation in Kerala, India.
Over the past 3 years, members of the Jesus Youth movement have undergone lengthy consultation in a synodal style to discern its path forward.
On Friday, October 23, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life officially approved the revised statutes of Jesus Youth, a decade after it received recognition as an international association of the faithful from the Holy See in May 2016.
Pope Leo recalled that Jesus Youth grew out of the spontaneous initiative of young people in India, as part of the Charismatic Renewal.
“The starting point for every authentic renewal in the Church is one’s own discovery of Jesus’ love,” he said. “Members of various prayer groups thus felt the need to come together in order to channel their enthusiasm and their initiatives into something that could sustain and guide the new spiritual and missionary impulse they had experienced.”
As Jesus Youth matures in its ecclesial journey, added the Pope, members are invited to take up new challenges and bear new fruit.
Pope Leo pointed to the many young people who have become joyful witness to the faith, especially Ajna George, whom he said was sustained in her illness and trials by her love for Jesus present in the Eucharist.
“Do not lose your apostolic zeal, but rather foster it and carry it to new countries,” he said. “Once again, all of this is possible only by keeping your gaze on Jesus Christ.”
The Pope noted that Jesus Youth is present in many areas where Christians are a minority, saying their Christian witness can help others realize their deep desire to discover Christ’s love.
He invited the movement to help young people discover their vocation to marriage, as well as to the priesthood and religious life.
“Young people need to know that their lives are great and beautiful because they are part of God’s greater plan,” he said.
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV encouraged members of the Jesus Youth movement to maintain their “youthful freshness and enthusiasm for the faith,” while patiently overcoming any difficulties that arise from ritual differences.
“Seek to preserve your unity, especially amid the great diversity of social backgrounds, cultures and languages that are hallmarks of your movement.”
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