“Pope Francis Encourages Youth to Seek Big Answers and Challenge Life’s Adventures in Speech at Papp László Budapest Sportaréna”

His Holiness Pope Francis delivered a speech during his meeting with young people within the framework of his apostolic visit to Hungary, in which he expressed his pleasure to be with them, and recalled what Archbishop Ferenc, responsible for youth pastoral affairs, said that youth is the period of big questions and big answers. And the Holy Father said this is true, stressing the importance of listening to the questions of young people and not giving easy and prepared answers in advance, but rather helping them to challenge the adventure of life without fear, in search of great answers. Pope Francis indicated during his meeting with the youth that Christ is the friend, the best of friends; He is the brother, the best of the brothers, and he knows very well how to ask questions. And he stopped at Jesus’ words to the adulterous woman, whom everyone pointed the finger at. Jesus intervened, and those who accused her departed, and Jesus was left alone with her. Then he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” (John 8, 10). She replied, “No, Lord!” (verse 11). And when she said that, she understood that God did not want to condemn, but to forgive. Pope Francis added, saying that God always forgives, and is ready to raise us up after every fall. With him we should never be afraid to walk and move forward in life. He also highlighted in his speech the first encounter of Jesus with those who would become his disciples. Two of them were sent by John the Baptist and followed him. The Lord turned and asked one question, “What do you want?” (John 1,38). And Pope Francis continued, saying: I will ask you a question, but each one will answer in his heart, in silence: What do you want? What are you looking for in life? He noted that Jesus walks near each of us. He does not want his disciples to be schoolchildren who repeat the lesson, but rather young people who are free and on a journey, companions on the path with God who listens to their needs and is aware of their dreams.

And Pope Francis added, you may ask, what is to be done in order to be winners in life? He pointed out that there are two basic steps, as in sports: first, looking up, and second, training. And he stopped at the beginning at the first point and said: Do you have talent? You sure have talent! Do not put it aside thinking that it is enough minimum to be happy as a degree, a job to earn money…. Do you have a good quality? Invest without fear! Do you feel it is nice to love the Lord, to start a big family, and to help those in need? Don’t think that they are unattainable desires, but invest in the big life goals! Pope Francis continued his speech, stopping at the second point, i.e. training, and indicated that this takes place in dialogue with Jesus, who is the best trainer. He listens to you, motivates you and trusts you. He always calls us to work as a team: not alone, but with others, in community, through shared experiences. In this regard, the Holy Father recalled World Youth Days and said that he takes this opportunity to invite them to the upcoming World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, in early August.

Pope Francis also spoke about another important element of training, which was referred to in a testimony given by a young woman during the meeting. She recalled that there is something fundamental that young people and adults lack today and said: We do not give ourselves time to be silent in the noise, because we fear loneliness. And the Holy Father added, in his speech during his meeting with the youth: Do not be afraid to go against the tide, and to find time for silence every day, to stop and pray. He pointed out that silence is the soil on which we develop beneficial relationships, because it allows us to entrust to Jesus what we live, bring to Him faces and names, cast our concerns on Him, remember friends and pray for them. Silence also gives us the opportunity to read a page of the Bible that addresses our lives, to worship God, and thus find peace in our hearts. Pope Francis also stressed that silence is not for us to stick to mobile phones and social media, and said that life is not virtual, and does not happen on the screen, but in the world!

Silence is the door to prayer, and prayer is the door to love, Pope Francis said in his speech during his meeting with young people, noting at the same time that prayer is a dialogue with Jesus. And when you pray, he added, do not be afraid to bring to Jesus everything that goes through your inner world: feelings, fears, problems, expectations, memories and hopes. Prayer is a dialogue of life, prayer is life. Then he called for each one of us to ask himself: What am I doing for others, for society, and for the Church? Let us ask ourselves about gratuitousness and our ability to love like Jesus, that is, love and service. Referring to his visit to Budapest a year and a half ago on the occasion of the International Eucharistic Conference, Pope Francis continued his speech, stopping at the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel on the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the two fish, highlighting the participation. And he said that the little that was with that boy became a lot in the hands of Jesus, pointing out that faith leads us to the freedom of giving and the enthusiasm of giving and overcoming fears!

Concluding his speech during his meeting with young people this afternoon, Saturday, in “Papp László Budapest Sportaréna”, as part of his Apostolic Visit to Hungary, Pope Francis said: Let us help each other to trust that we are loved and precious. Let us pray for this and encourage one another in this!