Words by Pope Francis at World Youth Day 2013

Pope Francis at Mass at the Cathedral of St. Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro
on July 27th 2013

In Pope Francis’ homily from Mass at the Cathedral of St. Sebastian on July 27th the Holy Father speaks beautifully about our call to help our young people.

“Let us help our young people to realize that the call to be missionary disciples flows from our baptism and is an essential part of what it means to be a Christian. We must also help them to realize that we are called first to evangelize in our own homes and our places of study and work, to evangelize our family and friends.

Let us spare no effort in the formation of our young people! Saint Paul uses a beautiful expression that he embodied in his own life, when he addressed the Christian community: “My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you” (Gal 4:19). Let us embody this also in our own ministry! Let us help our young people to discover the courage and joy of faith, the joy of being loved personally by God, who gave his Son Jesus for our salvation. "

The Holy father concludes his homily by once again pointing out Our Blessed Mother Mary as the Star to lead our efforts to reach her Son.

“May the Virgin Mary be our exemplar. In her life she was “a model of that motherly love with which all who join in the Church’s apostolic mission for the regeneration of humanity should be animated” (Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, 65). May she be the Star that surely guides our steps to meet the Lord. Amen.”