A synod observer participates in prayer at the start of a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 18. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
By Father Robert Stark
Hawaii Catholic Herald
“Jesus does not leave us alone in our adventure, especially in moments that put us to the test.” (Pope Francis at the “Young People for Uniqueness, Solidarity and Creativity” gathering during the Synod of Bishops on Youth, Rome, Oct. 6)
ROME — During the Synod of Bishops on youth taking place this month on Rome, Pope Francis took time to “listen empathetically” and talk story with more than 5,000 youth gathered in the Vatican audience hall. Many young people today are facing major challenges, he said, and each has a valuable story to share, a dream for the future, and a desire to be heard.
The day before the synod opened, several delegates visited a Jesuit Refugee Services center in the basement of a parish church in Rome to talk story with young migrants from the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and Central America — to hear about their reality, their hopes, and how they want the church to accompany them.
One young Muslim Afghan refugee told us that he was born in a refugee camp and has lived a life of constant struggle. “Afghanistan has been the pawn of superpowers waging their wars for 40 years, so I am not optimistic about the future of my country,” he said. “I live in Italy now and I thank the church for welcoming and helping me. But now I feel trapped. There is nowhere else I can live, and it is so difficult to find a job to support myself.”
A young pregnant migrant from Cameroon, Africa, talked about how she felt lost in her journey until she met a group of Sacred Heart Sisters who “treated me like their child, and helped me feel like I was coming home.” She praised Pope Francis’ efforts in spreading a message of welcome for migrants and fighting for their rights.
Another young woman said she came to Italy as a migrant from Albania in a rowboat at the age of 7 and lived here with her family in abandoned buildings. She shared how a local parish priest came out to where they were and offered them much-needed assistance.
She now wants to “give back” by helping other migrants. She is learning Spanish in order to communicate better with migrant youth on the move, saying her mission is to be “responsible both as a Christian and migrant.”
A young migrant from Mali, West Africa, told us he is involved in a project called “Windows,” speaking in schools about his life experiences. “It is important that local children understand who migrants are, why we leave our countries and come here, what our challenges and dreams are. We all need to understand that we are all human, we all breathe the same air, we all share the same blood. The future depends on the children, so I am so happy to be able to speak with them. We thank Pope Francis for welcoming us. He cares about us and that makes a difference.”
At the synod itself, at the large gathering of youth on Oct. 6, after hearing the personal stories of other young people, our Holy Father said what he found most touching was that “another life is possible.” He reminded us that “youth are not just the future, but the church’s present.”
“The synod is fruit of a work in which youth have been and are protagonists,” he said. He applauded the youth’s emphasis on service and concrete action. “Real power must always be about service,” he said. “We win with the embrace, with welcome, with dialogue, with love, which is the word that opens all doors.”
Pope Francis ended that evening by encouraging the young people to find themselves “not by looking in the mirror, but by doing, by going in search of goodness, of truth, of beauty. If you are a Christian, take the Beatitudes and put them into practice.”
Indeed, with love, all doors can be open! With God, all is possible and Jesus never leaves us alone.
Gracias a Dios.
Father Robert Stark, director of the Diocesan Office for Social Ministry, is a voting member of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, Oct. 3-28.
