Holy Father Pope Francis has sent a video message to some Spanish religious who are taking part in a meeting in the capital Madrid. In the message sent to the head of the theological institute, Fr Carlos Martìnez Oliveras, His Holiness Pope Francis conveyed that he fears that young people are losing sight of their roots. Holy Father noted that the background to the meeting is the lack of vocations to religious life in Spain today.
As reported by Vatican Radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “It is important to avoid proselytizing, seeking instead to open ways for the Lord to speak and to call young people. Above all, we must avoid electoral campaigning or advertising campaigns because God’s call does not work through marketing models”.
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his remarks by exhorting the Spanish religious to be courageous and to help young people to recover their roots so that their sons and their daughters shall prophesy, their old men shall dream dreams. Holy Father also reminded the faithful that “We must listen to the concerns of the young and the old, while praying and witnessing, leaving the number of vocations in the hands of the Lord.”
