Today, the Holy Father received “The young people of the Italian Catholic Action” in Rome. Commenting on the organization’s motto “Put out to sea,” which he compared to Jesus’ call to the apostles to be “fishers of men,” the Pope said that God does not want us to “capture” people because He respects our freedom.
The Pope also urged young people not to become boring and monotonous individuals who no longer know how to marvel at anything and take everything for granted:
“Let us learn, then, to experience wonder. Please do not lose the capacity for wonder. Let us learn to take nothing for granted, especially love: that of God and that of the people we meet. Let us spread our wonder to everything and everyone: from home to home, parish to parish, city to city, nation to nation. In this way, we spread happiness, trust and consolation.”
He also told the young people, who brought gifts for the poor, never to forget them and to show closeness and love along with their gifts:
“I know you have brought gifts for those most in need. Do not forget those in need! And when you find children in need, people in need, look them in the eye and touch their hand while you give alms, close to them, with that closeness that only love gives.”
