Dear young people,The Church lives

Dear young people,

The Church lives the Holy Year of Mercy, a time of grace, peace, conversion and joy that involves everyone, big and small, near and far. There are no boundaries or distance can prevent the Father's mercy to join us and to make present among us. Now opened the Holy Door in Rome and in every diocese in the world.

That precious time you apply to you too, dear boys and girls, and I am writing to you to invite you to participate, to become actors, you discover children of God (cf. 1 Jn 3: 1). I would call you one by one, I would call you by name, as does Jesus every day, because you know that your names are written in heaven (Lk 10, 20) are engraved in the heart of the Father is the merciful Heart whence arises any reconciliation and any sweetness.

The Jubilee is a year where every moment is says St. so that our existence to become fully holy. This is an opportunity where we rediscover that live as brothers is a great festival, the most beautiful that we can dream, the endless feast that Jesus taught us to sing in his Spirit. The Jubilee is the feast at which Jesus really invites everyone without distinctions and without excluding anyone. For this I also desired to live with you days of prayer and celebration. I expect many of you, therefore, in the month of April.

"Growing up in being merciful as the Father" is the title of your Jubilee, but it is also the prayer we make to all of you, welcoming you in Jesus name. Grow up merciful means learning to be brave in the concrete and unselfish love means becoming great both physically and internally. You are preparing to become Christians capable of choice and courageous gestures, able to build daily, in small things, a world of peace.

You are an incredible age changes, where everything seems possible and impossible at the same time. I repeat very strongly, "Stay on the path of faith with firm hope in the Lord. There lies the secret of our way! He gives us the courage to go against the tide. Believe me: it is good for the heart, but it takes courage to go against the tide and he gives us that courage! With it we can do great things; we will feel the joy of being his disciples, his witnesses. Wager on ideals, on the big things. We Christians are not chosen by the Lord for niceties, always go beyond, to great things. Play your life for great ideals! "(Homily for the day confirmed the Year of Faith, April 28, 2013).

I can not forget you, young boys and girls who live in contexts of war, extreme poverty, daily struggle, abandonment. Do not lose hope, the Lord has a big dream to perform with you! Your friends your age who live in less dramatic circumstances than yours, remember you and are committed to peace and justice should belong to all. Do not believe in hate speech and terror that are often repeated; unlike build new friendships. Give your time, you always worry about the one who asks you for help. Be brave and countercurrent, be friends of Jesus, who is the Prince of peace (cf. Is 9: 6), "while He speaks of mercy. Nothing in Him lack of compassion "(Misericordiae vultus, n. 8).

I know you can not all come to Rome, but the Jubilee is truly for everyone and will also be celebrated in your local Churches. You are all invited to this moment of joy! Do not make only bags and banners, especially prepare your heart and mind. Meditate well the desires that you will give to Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist that we celebrate together.

When you pass through the Holy Door, remember that you are committed to making your life holy, feed you to the Gospel and the Eucharist, which is the Word and the Bread of Life, in order to build a world more just and fraternal.

May the Lord bless your every step towards the Holy Door. I pray for you the Holy Spirit to guide you and enlighten you. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of all that is either for you, for your families and for all those that help you grow in goodness and grace, a true Gate of Mercy.

From the Vatican, 6 January 2016, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

François