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Pope encourages young people to 'run towards Jesus'


Source: Vatican Media

More than 70,000 young Italians gathered in Rome's Circus Maximus for a meeting with Pope Francis on Saturday evening.

The Pope encouraged them "to run towards Jesus" and their brothers and sisters "with hearts full of love, faith, and joy.He told them a slow pace would not do on life's journey of faith, only "a quick step and daring leaps"... "courage is needed" he said, "to dream and make present the Kingdom of God, just like Jesus."

Pope Francis said Christians are not called to shy away from suffering, defeat, and death. "God gave us the greatest power over all injustices and human weaknesses: Jesus conquered death by giving his life for us." This power, said Pope Francis, impels us to seek out our brothers and sisters, no matter the darkness in which they find themselves.

"At the moment when death appears to triumph," he said, "in reality that moment is revealed as death's defeat."

The Pope said the power of Jesus' Resurrection is so contagious that history cannot resist its advance.

"Every place where life is oppressed; where violence, war, and misery reign; and where people are humiliated and trod underfoot: there hope in life can still be rekindled."

The event was part of a week-long pilgrimage organised by the Youth Ministry of the Italian Bishops' Conference, ahead of the Synod for Young People which takes place in October and World Youth Day next January.

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