Pope Francis has written to young people in preparation for the 39th World Youth Day (WYD), to be held on the Solemnity of Christ the King (24 November 2024). His second message exploring the Jubilee 2025 theme, he invites young people to “set out and become pilgrims of hope”.
Following the 38th WYD message titled ‘Rejoicing in Hope’, this year’s message is titled ‘Those who hope in the Lord will run and not be weary’. In it, Pope Francis acknowledges challenges in the lives of young people and invites them to set out in life as pilgrims, holding Jesus as their hope.
“The solution to tiredness, oddly enough, is not to stand still and rest,” Pope Francis writes. “It is to set out and become pilgrims of hope. This is my invitation to you: walk in hope!
“When the weariness of the journey weighs you down, come back to Jesus, learn to rest in him and abide with him, for ‘those who hope in the Lord... will run and not be weary’ (Is. 40:31).”
The Holy Father invites young people to engage in life more fully, rather than just through the lens of social media: “My advice to you is this: do not set out as mere tourists, but as true pilgrims”.
“Pilgrims immerse themselves fully in the places they encounter, listen to the message they communicate, and make them a part of their quest for happiness and fulfilment,” the Pope writes.
Accompanying the Holy Father’s message were videos from young people around the world, sharing their global realities and reflections on his message. Released by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, the videos highlight the experience and voice of young people, encouraging ongoing listening and accompaniment in our local churches.
Following the 2018 General Synod on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment, the Holy Father has encouraged local churches to acknowledge, appreciate and empower young people through local WYD celebrations on the Solemnity of Christ the King. To assist with this, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life released Pastoral Guidelines for the Celebration of World Youth Day in the Particular Churches in 2021.
The guidelines highlight the need to gather and celebrate with young people through dynamic “festivals of faith” promoting pilgrimage, formation, accompaniment, discernment, and missionary experiences. These experiences must be developed and presented in partnership with young people, offering a synodal experience of our Church.
Pope Francis’ 39th WYD message is a timely reminder for the Church in Australia to re-engage its focus and mission with young people. The week following the Solemnity of Christ the King on 24 November will mark one year until the next Australian Catholic Youth Festival, to be held in Melbourne. Five years on from the last festival in Perth, the 2025 event is anticipated to gather 10,000 young people.
Pope Francis’ message is for young people, youth ministers and all the Church, to ensure we are all on a pilgrimage, and to find our hope in Jesus. During the Jubilee Year our celebrations will be personal and communal and will take many forms. And in Australia our Jubilee journey will culminate with the re-animation of our largest and most dynamic national gathering of the Church, the Australian Catholic Youth Festival.
Links
XXXVIII World Youth Day, 2023: “Rejoicing in Hope” (Rom 12:12) | Francis (vatican.va)
XXXIX World Youth Day, 2024: «Those who hope in the Lord walk without tiring» (cf. Is 40:31) | Francis (vatican.va)
Living the Pope's Message to young people for the 39th World Youth Day (laityfamilylife.va)
WYD Guidelines (laityfamilylife.va)
Words: Malcolm Hart
Image: Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life (Flickr)