ESTA ES LA JUVENTUD DEL PAPA

Pope Benedict with young people at Westminster Piazza, September 2010
 

Here are a few quotes spoken by Pope Benedict XVI to the young people of the UK during the Papal Visit in 2010. His visit had a profound impact on my life and I have him to thank for bringing me back to faith in Jesus Christ and helping me find my feet in the Catholic Church.  He has shaped the Catholic youth in this country and we are proud to be known as the "Benedict XVI generation".

BELLAHOUSTON PARK

I urge you to lead lives worthy of our Lord (cf. Eph 4:1) and of yourselves.

There is only one thing which lasts: the love of Jesus Christ personally for each one of you. Search for him, know him and love him, and he will set you free from slavery to the glittering but superficial existence frequently proposed by today’s society.

Put aside what is worthless and learn of your own dignity as children of God.

This is the challenge the Lord gives to you today: the Church now belongs to you!

THE BIG ASSEMBLY

I hope that among those of you listening to me today there are some of the future saints of the twenty-first century. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness.

What kind of person would you really like to be?

When I invite you to become saints, I am asking you not to be content with second best.

True happiness is to be found in God. We need to have the courage to place our deepest hopes in God alone, not in money, in a career, in worldly success, or in our relationships with others, but in God. Only he can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts.

WESTMINSTER PIAZZA

I ask each of you first and foremost to look into your own heart, think of all the love that your heart was made to receive, and also love it is meant to give, after all we were made for love.

We were also made to give love, to make the inspirational for all we do, and the most enduring thing in our lives.

The Blessed mother Theresa of Calcutta, the great missionary of charity reminded us that giving love, pure and generous love, is the fruit of a daily decision.

I ask you to look into your hearts, each day, to find the source of all true love. Jesus is always there. Quietly waiting for us to be still with him and to hear his voice. Deep within your heart, he is calling you to spend time with him in prayer, but this kind of prayer, real prayer, requires discipline.

HYDE PARK VIGIL

Dear young friends: only Jesus knows what “definite service” he has in mind for you. Be open to his voice resounding in the depths of your heart: even now his heart is speaking to your heart.

Ask our Lord what he has in mind for you! Ask him for the generosity to say “yes!” Do not be afraid to give yourself totally to Jesus. He will give you the grace you need to fulfil your vocation.