At the Meeting with Young People (10 September 1983)

On Saturday, 10 September 1983, the Holy Father met with young people in Prater Stadium of Vienna. In his speech, the Pope focused their attention on Christ and His bond with the Father. "It is clear that Jesus embodies more than any ideal of modern man. He demonstrates that nature and man have a profound meaning: the earth is God's creation; God, the Eternal Father, acts incessantly in her. Thus through all creation we can see even God: both through great events and through seemingly insignificant things, to which we often do not pay attention.

Dear young friends!
Brothers and sisters!

1. This afternoon I'm yours! — You came here from all over Austria and also brought with you friends from neighboring countries. Many of you already have work. Others attend school or university. You also have in common faith in Jesus Christ or at least the search for Him. For this reason, our meeting this afternoon has the theme "Jesus Christ — our path".

When I observe you or young people from other countries I feel filled with great affection and great hope . The destiny of your country, for much of the next millennium, is also in your hands. And also the fate of the faith in Austria and neighboring countries is partly determined by you. Through your questions and your instructions, with which you frequently criticize the work of those responsible for the State and the Church, I recognize your willingness to face the problems posed by the current situation. These are incredibly serious and require your full commitment.

You yourselves have just expressed it effectively and seriously: the world and the times we live in today are a great challenge for you . You are hurt by misery and hunger in vast regions of the earth and by so much injustice. You are on guard in the face of the mortal danger of gigantic arsenals of weapons and the threat of an atomic war. You care about the environment. You know that many people, especially young people, are threatened by unemployment or are now out of work. Many men in other countries are intellectually suffocated and cannot freely profess their faith. All this creates here and there the feeling that life no longer has a future or a meaning.

In such a situation, some escape their responsibilities: with ephemeral pleasures, with the fictitious world of alcohol and drugs, with non-binding sexual relationships, with indifference, cynicism or even violence. For some, escape into death apparently becomes the last solution.

2. But midnight is, as someone said, at the same time the beginning of the day . The difficulties of our time awaken in many men, especially young people, the most daring dreams, the best strengths of the spirit, of the heart, of the hands. It awakens the willingness to share and commit one’s life without any calculations.

Everywhere in the world men began to ask themselves and others the question: what can I do? What can we do? Where does our path lead? It is mainly young people who ask themselves these questions. They wish to make their contribution to healing a largely tired and sick society. In this way they give their own lives and the lives of their friends a new meaning. This meaning for many of them already has a name: the name of "Jesus Christ". They found Jesus. He became their new hope. Other young people, for their part, look for Jesus. Show me the path that leads to Him!

You came by different paths, on foot, to this stadium. These different paths that you followed all converged towards the Cross, which some of you, representing others, made on the ground, drew on the ground in the center of the stadium. It is a cross made of flowers, a cross that blooms. It is the winning sign of Jesus, who died crucified and at the same time rose again. A sign of faith at Easter against everything that could paralyze you.

Your paths and this Cross in our midst show us Jesus Christ, who said of himself: " I am the way " ( John 14:6).

Almost 2,000 years ago he called young people like you to Himself. They left their boats and nets and became his followers. Fishermen and tax collectors became apostles. Jesus also calls today. He calls you! He shows you the way through the Gospels, which speak of his relationships with men.

3. We are immediately struck by the great tenderness and great affection with which He addresses men: how He blesses children and how He gives confidence to sinners during the banquet; how he cares for his followers and how he guides them step by step towards the plan of life; how he shares the suffering of the widow of Nain, how he listens to the blind beggar who screams at the side of the street, and how he talks to the woman at the fountain. Each page of the Gospel tells us of the infinite charity of the One, who "went throughout the world doing works of charity".

In addition to men, Jesus shows himself to be deeply connected to all of creation : He observes how the seed grows in the plowed field and how the fig tree bears its fruit. He notices the wind and the clouds. The mustard seed and the vine, the lilies and the birds become the parable for the kingdom of God, which He announces.

Certainly we should not be surprised that today's young people are turning once again to Jesus: you are in fact particularly concerned that man and nature are considered in their just dignity and their just value.

It is clear that Jesus embodies more than any ideal of modern man. He demonstrates that nature and man have a profound meaning: the earth is God's creation; God, the Eternal Father, acts incessantly in her. Thus through all creation we can see even God: both through great events and through seemingly insignificant things, to which we often do not pay attention.

The Gospels therefore testify that the strength that conditions Jesus and his entire life is his bond of love with God the Father.

This message from Jesus about the continued presence of God in the midst of such creation should be a source of confidence for us : God knows us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He loves us although this love is often veiled. He is a God who gives us a future. He is not a God of the dead but a God who is alive and gives life. In Him we can have confidence, in Him we can take root. If we fall, we cannot fall except into the hands of God. Jesus taught us this during the 33 years of his pilgrimage among men. This He understood when He said "I am the way."

Jesus' message is at the same time a demand . From affection and trust in Him a succession must spring. Feelings alone are not enough: we must be ready to direct all our will and our actions towards Him: In this the Lord leaves no doubt: "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves Me ( John 14, 21).

Perhaps now you want to ask: What does the Lord want? How can we accomplish your will? "You know the commandments", Jesus himself responds in the Gospel to the young man who asks him this question: "You know the commandments"! Take them seriously! They show you the way.

4. Dear young people, friends! On this path Christ called you. And as with the followers of Emmaus, He walks together with you on your path in meeting men, at work, in society.

You go to meet men . Many of them are still unknown to you. One of them will perhaps become your life companion, decisive for you and for the children of whom you will be parents. How will you find each other? How will you know that love that overcomes even disappointments? How will you know that true realization of yourselves, which knows not only the I, but also the you and the we? Jesus said, "Come and learn from Me"!

You are also going to find a job . For many it will not be the job they dreamed of, but just a place of work, where all your commitment is also required. Work loyally, be good colleagues. And when necessary, be ready to take on particular responsibilities. Do not be afraid to identify yourself as Christians in your environment. This creed brings you profound joy, even if sometimes you are not understood or even mocked.

You are also going to meet a future society . You want it to be better than the current one. Your wish is justified. However, it would be unfair not to thank those who in their time have already done a lot for you. It would be unfair, looking back and with belated judgment, to evaluate all events in a limiting way. As Christians, we therefore also believe in the possibility of further development towards improvement. This naturally often presupposes deep reflection and change.

You want a society with more sincerity, justice and mercy. You want a society with a greater sense of responsibility towards people and the environment, with more tolerance and, above all, with more peace. Begin to be more sincere and just, more merciful and committed to peace, the peace that we can expect from others only if we live it ourselves.

You are going to meet a society, in the formation of which you must collaborate. The next generation will ask you the same question that you ask your elders today: what have you done with your life and the world?

5. You too, dear friends, will imprint the future history of the Church . I am convinced that you do not want a Church that limits the requests of Jesus or that puts the treasures of faith into liquidation.

You want a Church that speaks clearly and lives in a credible way. Without abandoning itself to the spirit of the time, it must convey hope to the men of today. She does it:

— having alive in men the conviction that the salvation of structures depends on the salvation of hearts;

— expecting salvation not only thanks to our personal efforts, but above all as a gift from God;

— announcing God as our definitive fulfillment and abandoning the fear of losing fortune if we do not readily seek it for ourselves;

— living with serene simplicity, because he sees his true wealth in God.

Jesus says to each one of you today what he once said to Saint Francis of Assisi: You must rebuild my house, the Church. Many dream of one. Diverse, completely new church. Christ, however, encourages you to deepen your commitment to the current Church : this you must "rebuild", this must be renewed.

From today you can begin to make your contribution to the reconstruction of the Church of tomorrow: a Church that knows no separation, neither that of confessions nor that of generations; a Church that offers many a homeland and yet makes clear the fact that this world is not our definitive home.

In this Church you all have a place and a task. You build this Church as young Christians, as future fathers and mothers, as believing men in many professions and spheres of life.

Among you there are certainly not a few who Christ wants to call to his service as priests, religious men and women. Do not escape his call. Pay attention to his weak voice among the stronger voices that want to tell you something else.

6. Your task is great, young friends! But Jesus also tells you: " Do not be afraid" . Do not let yourself be paralyzed by prophets of misfortune. Do not submit to the motto "All or nothing", but have courage and patience, taking small steps. Think for yourselves and don't let yourself be guided by other people's phrases.

Jesus also tells you: " Do penance, convert ". Do not offload your responsibilities onto others, in Society, in the State, in the Church. Move from complaints and accusations to self-responsibility. Re-pacify yourselves through the sacrament of reconciliation with God and with men, then you can be happy men and make others happy too.

Jesus also asks you, as he asked Peter: "Do you love me "? If you love Him, how much can this love cost? You are rich in talent, ideas and good will. Commit yourselves to peace and against misery in the Third World. You are young. Today, too, it is beautiful to be young, open to the world and to life. It's beautiful to give and receive.

Jesus tells you " It is I who send you ". Don't sit comfortably, don't sit with your doubts and your fears, but go. You know the way. Our path is Jesus Christ. Let's walk this path together!

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