More than 3,000 people are attending the 14th International Youth Conference, currently underway in Kerala. The Archbishop of Mumbai cites the appeal by young people to the Synod asking to be listened to, trusted and accompanied. The prelate calls on young people to dream for “This is a sign that the Holy Spirit is with you.”
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – Card Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), led the inaugural Mass of the 14th International Youth Conference currently underway in Kerala.
All the baptised "are called to have relationships with Jesus, to become disciples of Jesus, to transform the world and relationships so that we can be true missionary disciples,” the prelate said in his address.
“Dream dreams of becoming true disciples of the mission at work, at home and in society," he told the 3,000 people in attendance. “Set all your worries and anxieties aside, present them to the Lord,” he added. “This is a moment for a two-way communication with Jesus.”
Led by Fr Augustine Vallooran, an internationally renowned preacher, the International Youth Conference is being held from 21 to 26 July at the Divine Retreat Centre in Muringoor, Kerala. This year's theme is ‘Kindle into a flame’, from the Second Letter to Timothy (2 Tim 1: 6).
Card Gracias referred to his participation in the Synod on Young People, when young Catholics from all over the world sent a clear message to the bishops, asking them to listen to them, to trust them and to accompany them.
In this regard, the cardinal noted that listening means paying attention to what is said. “Our youth cried out”, asking that they not be treated as “mere children.” Instead, “we are responsible, and know that we can to things well,” they said.
This message "is also for all parents”. In fact, “society must learn from our youth, give them responsibilities, know and accept that our youth are generous, authentic, wanting to transform the world for the better, full of energy and enthusiasm ".
When it comes to the bishops, young people at the Synod asked the prelates to accompany them: "Walk with us, be at our side, don’t leave us alone; if we make mistakes correct us, don’t neglect us.”
Card Gracias went on to tell his audience to take advantage of the conference to "dream, to dream Jesus is with you, learn to dream dreams for a better world, a better society, a better India. This is a sign that the Holy Spirit is with you.”
Urging youth to be missionaries to the world, he explained that "We are not meant to be islands; we are called to be part of a community".
Finally, he ended repeating "Christ lives", which is also the title of Pope Francis’s post-synodal apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit.