Vatican City (AsiaNews) - During this morning's meeting with the bishops of South Korea, who are at the Vatican for their five-yearly 'ad limina' visit, Pope Francis spoke about young people, the mission and how to bear credible witness to the Gospel.
The pope first cited his visit to the East Asian nation last August for the Sixth Asian Youth Day, a visit that "will remain a lasting encouragement for me in my ministry to the Universal Church." For the Holy Father, one of the visit's highlights was the beatification of Paul Yun Yi-Chung and the other 123 martyrs who were known for their loyalty, integrity in the pursuit of truth, and their witness of charity and solidarity.
"Their example," he said, "is a school which can form us into evermore faithful Christian witnesses by calling us to encounter, to charity and to sacrifice. The lessons which they taught are particularly applicable in our times when, despite the many advancements being made in technology and communication, individuals are increasingly becoming isolated and communities weakened.
"How important it is, then, that you work together with the priests, religious men and women, and lay leaders of your dioceses, to ensure that parishes, schools and centres of apostolate are authentic places of encounter: encounter with the Lord who teaches us how to love and who opens our eyes to the dignity of every person, and encounter with one another, especially the poor, the elderly, the forgotten in our midst. When we encounter Jesus and experience his compassion for us, we become ever more convincing witnesses of his saving power."
The pontiff also stressed the importance of being close to young people. Such closeness not only strengthens the institutions and the community of the Church, but also helps to understand the difficulties they and their families encounter. Thus, the Gospel can penetrate into the life of the Catholic community as well as that of society as a whole.
"I know that in your dioceses, parishes and institutions you are searching for new ways to involve your youth, so that they may have a voice and may be heard in order to share the richness of our faith and life in the Church. When we speak with young people, they challenge us to share the truth of Jesus Christ clearly and in a way that they can understand. They also test the authenticity of our own faith and fidelity. Though it is Christ we preach and not ourselves, we are called to be an example to the People of God (cf. 1 Pet, 5:3) in order to draw people to him. The young very quickly will call us and the Church to task if our lives do not mirror our faith. Their honesty in this regard can be a help to us, just as we seek to assist the faithful to manifest the faith in their daily lives.
Francis ended turning his attention to the missionary work of Korean priests in Mongolia. "By your collaboration and fraternal support," he said, "you will strengthen the Church in Korea and Mongolia and become ever more effective in proclaiming Christ.
"May you also be close to your priests: be true fathers, who seek not only to exhort and correct, but even more to accompany them in their difficulties and joys. Draw close as well to the many religious men and women whose consecration daily enriches and supports the life of the Church, for they offer society a visible sign of the new heavens and the new earth (cf. Rev 21:1-2). With these committed labourers in the vineyard of the Lord, together with all the lay faithful, may you build on the legacy of your forebears and offer to the Lord a worthy sacrifice for the deepening of the Church's communion and mission in Korea and Mongolia."