Pope Francis’ loud call to the world’s rising generations

Christus Vivit / Christ is Alive, Apostolic Exhortation to Young people and to the Entire people of God

by Pope Francis (Veritas, €4.99 / £4.31)

The text of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis, written in response to the Fifteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, on young people, faith, and vocational discernment, held during October last year, was released on April 2, 2019.

The Pope explains that he was inspired in a general way, and in more particular moments, by what was said at the meeting.

“In writing this letter, though, I have attempted to summarise those proposals I considered most significant,” he continues. “In this way, my words will echo the myriad voices of believers the world over who made their opinions known to the Synod. Those young people who are not believers, yet wished to share their thoughts, also raised issues that led me to ask new questions.”

He concludes with an appeal to the rising generations around the world, who after all (he seems to think), are not just part of the Church of today, they are the Church of tomorrow (about whom many Catholics seem to despair).

“The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us.”

He remarks also that “it is important to realise that Jesus was a young person. He gave his life when he was, in today’s terms, a young adult.”

Unhelpful

But he urges his readers not to be too exclusive. “It is unhelpful to buy into the cult of youth, or foolishly to dismiss others simply because they are older or from another generation. Jesus tells us that the wise are able to bring forth from their store things both new and old (Mt 13:52). A wise young person is open to the future, yet still capable of learning something from the experience of others.”

In other words, he says young Catholics should not become too bound up in the affairs of the Church (and its all too human problems), so as to fail to heed the teachings of Jesus.