Surprise message from Pope at Australian youth festival

A video message from the Pope was played at the opening plenary of the festival on November 30. The Pope encouraged the young people to embrace their God-given identity and walk boldly as disciples in today’s world.

“Our lives find their ultimate purpose in becoming who God made us to be, by living out his will,” the Holy Father said, recalling the words of Pope Benedict XVI.

“You are not the result of a random process. Each of you is willed, each of you is loved, each of you is necessary.”

Pope Leo urged the young people not to be discouraged by cultural trends that dismiss traditional values or isolate individuals despite the promise of connection.

“Technology may connect us,” he noted, “but it can also leave us more isolated.”

Rather, “Turn to God, especially through prayer and the sacraments. That’s where you’ll hear your Heavenly Father’s voice most clearly.”

The Pope concluded by calling on young pilgrims to draw inspiration from the lives of saints such as St Catherine of Siena, St Carlo Acutis and St Pier Giorgio Frassati, and to return home ready to “build up the Kingdom of God in your local communities”.

Some 6000 young participants attended the festival at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from November 30-December 2.

On the first day, thousands took part in a 5km pilgrimage walk from St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne to the festival venue. During the festival, the young people engaged in more than 100 workshops, daily Mass, concerts and sacred prayer experiences, under the banner of “Pilgrims of Hope”.

At the concluding Mass, Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli sent the young participants forth as pilgrims of hope and “the Spirit’s new shoots”. Archbishop Comensoli urged the young pilgrims to nurture the life of the Holy Spirit within.

At the conclusion of Mass, Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP extended a formal invitation to all to attend the 2028 ACYF, which would form a “crucial strand” of the International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney that year.

FULL STORY

Pope Leo inspires thousands at start of Australian Catholic Youth Festival (CathNews)

Youth commissioned at end of festival to be pilgrims of hope (CathNews)