Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "You must never adapt yourselves to a love reduced to a commercial good, to be consumed without respect for oneself and for others, incapable of chastity and purity. Much of the love proposed by the media and the internet is not love, but selfishness and closure" the pope told the boys, girls and young adults of Catholic Action Italy, gathered this morning in St Peter's Square.

The 100 thousand Ac young people were accompanied by Card. Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Bishops Conference, 25 other bishops and thousands of educators. In a square full of young people, all along Via Conciliazione, the children and teenagers flew banners, flags, colourful scarves and hats.

Benedict XVI arrived at 11 and toured the square in the pope mobile before coming to a halt at the raised dias in fron to the basilica. There a young man, a young woman, an educator addressed questions to the pope.

The boy asked Benedict XVI what it means to grow up. The Pope answering him recalled that "as a child in elementary school, I was among the smallest of the class. And this pushed me all the more to want to be big one day, not just in stature." "To be really great - he added – it is not a question of size, it means to have a big heart, be a great friend,  a friend of Jesus, who gives us His greatness”.

One young girl posed a question about love to the pope and after he highlighting the importance of this experience for young people, he noted that too often today, "the love is reduced to a commercial goo, to be consumed without respect for oneself or others, incapable of chastity or purity. " "This is how a lot of media and the internet proposes love” - he explained. “It's selfish, closed, a fleeting illusion, something that binds you like a chain, something that stifles thought and that undeniable strength that is true love, which, of course, also costs sacrifice”.

Responding to the young teacher, Benedict XVI recalled that the Italian Church has long stressed the urgency of addressing an "educational emergency" that requires the presence of adults who believe, capable of witnessing values and identity.

The pope emphasized that adult educators are not the "masters of young people but servants of their joy." He added: "Be guides that lead them to Jesus you have received a mandate from the Church for this task." And again: " You are good educators if you can involve everyone for the good of young people. You can not be self-sufficient, but you have to make known the urgency of educating young generations at all levels. Without the presence of the family, for example, you risk building on sand, without a partnership with the school the intelligence of a deep faith is not formed, and without the involvement of various players in the leisure and communication sectors your patient efforts may not be effective, not incisive on daily life".

At the end of the encounter the Pope thanked everyone for their presence and concluded: "I'd like to stay longer with you, because when I'm in the midst of so much joy and enthusiasm, I am full of joy! I feel rejuvenated. But unfortunately, time goes fast. Others are waiting for me ... but in my heart I am with you and remain with you".  The young people greeted him with loud applause and chanting "Be-ne-detto”."     Photo: CPP