On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, Pope Francis released a video message in Spanish, thanking all the World Youth Day 2023 volunteers for their generosity, stating that they are realizing the actions of the Church with their volunteer services.
(Vatican News Network) “Volunteering is a ‘force for change’, enabling people to step outside the box and do something about it.” In a video message to World Youth Day 2023 volunteers on December 5, International Volunteer Day, Pope Francis thanked “their generosity” and “the generosity of every volunteer”. Volunteers, the Pope said, are “a strength of the Church and an expression of the Church’s mission” because they carry out the action of the Church with their “voluntary work”. World Youth Day 2023 will be held in Lisbon, Portugal from 1 to 6 August.
“One of the things that struck me when I visited different parishes was the strength of volunteering. Yes, we have bishops, priests, nuns, laity and all the rest, but volunteering creates a climate of unity”.
The Pope listed the many advantages of volunteering, recalling that it is a “persevering service that carries out projects”. He explained with concrete examples, such as the care service for the sick: «These men and women are there all day long to offer their time to serve the sick. Volunteering is a grace from God, and you must accept this grace with all your strength.” pet”.
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