Pope encourages young Catholics: 'dare too be different'

Pope Francis on screen at Flame. ICN

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis sent the following message to thousands of young Catholics gathered at the OVO Arena Wembley, in London yesterday, for the 5th CYMFed Flame Congress. The event was held 150 days before the 37th World Youth Day which takes place in Lisbon, Portugal, on 1-6 August 2023 under the theme 'Rise Up!' an echo of the WYD Scripture passage: 'Mary arose and went with haste.'

His Holiness Pope Francis was pleased to learn that young Catholics from across England and Wales are gathering in Wembley Arena for the 2023 Flame Congress, and he sends heartfelt good wishes and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all taking part.

His Holiness prays that Almighty God will richly bless their time together, so that through Adoration, music, testimonies and the sharing of friendship with Christ and with one another, all present will grow strong in faith and love and bear witness courageously to the Gospel message that sets us free. As they do so, it is his hope that those assembled, will, like Mary, the Mother of God, respond with haste to the Lord's call to follow Him, and in particular to "dare to be different, to point to ideals other than those of this world, testifying to the beauty of generosity, service, purity, perseverance, forgiveness, fidelity to our personal vocation, prayer, the pursuit of justice and the common good, love for the poor, and social friendship "(Apostolic Exhortation Christ's Vivar 36).

Entrusting all the participants and their families to the intercession of Our Lady of Walsingham, the Holy Father gladly imparts his blessing as a pledge of wisdom, joy and peace in Jesus the Lord.

Signed

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State

We will publishing more reports on ICN from this great event soon.

Read more about Flame on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cymfedflame