Pope Francis presided over a mass on the Feast of Christ the King and urged young people to embrace their love for God and life despite the accusations of others.
Vatican News
Vatican City, Monday, November 25, 2024: Pope Francis witnesses the dedication of the WYD Cross and the icons of Maria Salus Populi Romani as the Church celebrates the annual World Youth Day on the Feast of Christ the King.
At the conclusion of mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, several Portuguese youth handed over the symbols of the WYD Cross and the Maria Salus Populi Romani to a South Korean delegation as they prepare to host World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027. .
In his homily, Pope Francis called these symbols a sign and an invitation for Christians to live the Gospel without despairing and never stopping hoping.
As the Church’s liturgical year concluded, he urged the faithful to feel encouraged by the certainty of Christ’s eternal kingdom.
Pope Francis said young people should draw courage from Jesus’ fidelity to God in the midst of trials and public humiliation.
Like them, they too sometimes feel “burdened” to follow Jesus and face pressure to conform in ways contrary to the gospel.
He said, “Fear not damnation!” “Don’t worry; sooner or later, their criticisms will fail, their condemnations will prove false, and their superficial values will be revealed for what they are: illusions.”
He said that love is the only thing that lasts, and that is why we must embrace the eternal gift of God’s love.
only love brings happiness
Pope Francis further said that Jesus never tried to obtain the support or “approval” of the authorities, because he rejected “the mentality of power.”
He said that God loves each of us just as we are, so there is no need for us to seek worldly approval through social media or any other means.
He said, “Before Him, the innocence of your dreams is more valuable than success and fame and the sincerity of your intentions is more valuable than worldly approval.”
The Pope said that no worldly affection can make us happy, because “only the free gift of love can give us happiness.”
bear witness to the truth
Pope Francis then highlighted the importance of truth, which frees us from the chains of self-sufficiency, injustice and suffering.
The Pope said: “Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life, renouncing everything and dying on the cross for our salvation, teaches us that only in love can we live in our full dignity, grow and flourish. “He recalled the Christian testimony of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, whom he will canonize during the Youth Jubilee at the beginning of August 2025.
Pope Francis said the young Italian Frascati reminds young people that their goal is not “simply to survive.” Instead, Christians want to live fully and “bear witness to the truth in the love of God, loving one another as Jesus loved us.”
God’s eternal love
Finally, Pope Francis assured the faithful that world events have not escaped God’s watchful eye, saying that “it is not true that history is written by oppressors and tyrants.”
He said that Christ, the just and merciful King, will ultimately judge each person.
“When we make mistakes, he corrects us, but he never stops loving us,” the Pope said in his homily. “If we wish, they can pick us up so we can continue our journey happily.”
