Fresh from his Apostolic Journey to Panama, His Holiness Pope Francis relived World Youth Day with the pilgrims present at the General Audience. One of the things that really struck him during the trip, the Pontiff said, was how parents lifted their children in the air when the Pope-mobile passed by. “The pride of that family are its children. Children are security for the future,” he said.
As reported by Vatican news, His Holiness Pope Francis said there was much dignity in the act of parents holding their children aloft, and that it speaks volumes “about the demographic winter that we are living in Europe!” “The demographic winter – without children – is difficult, right?”, he said. His Holiness Pope Francis said his whole journey to Panama was permeated by the “joyful presence of young people”. He called it a feast “for them and for Panama, and even for the whole of Central America, which is marked by many dramatic moments and needs hope, peace, and justice.”
His Holiness Pope Francis then reflected on the importance of young people for society. The Pontiff said their gifts are not reserved only for tomorrow. Young people, he said, “are the today for tomorrow. They are not ‘in the meantime’, but are the ‘today’, the ‘now’, of the Church and the world.” The Pontiff said he also appealed to adults to properly educate and form young people, so that they can find work and a place in society.
