"BUILDING A FUTURE"

Attentiveness to young people and their concerns, the ability to listen to them and appreciate them, is not merely something expedient; it represents a primary duty for society as a whole, for the sake of building a future of justice and peace.

A TASK FOR ALL

It is a matter of communicating to young people an appreciation for the positive value of life and of awakening in them a desire to spend their lives in the service of the Good. This is a task which engages each of us personally.

"HOPE AND CONFIDENCE"

The Church looks to young people with hope and confidence; she encourages them to seek truth, to defend the common good, to be open to the world around them and willing to see "new things" (Is 42:9; 48:6).

"TRUE EDUCATION"

Where does true education in peace and justice take place? First of all, in the family since the family, since parents are the first educators.

DON'T BE DISHEARTENED

I would urge parents not to grow disheartened! May they encourage children by the example of their lives to put their hope before all else in God, the one source of authentic justice and peace.

HAVE COURAGE

Young people too need to have the courage to live by the same high standards that they set for others. Theirs is a great responsibility: may they find the strength to make good and wise use of their freedom. They too are responsible for their education, including their education in justice and peace!

GOD SAVES US

... I wish to say emphatically: "It is not ideologies that save the world, but only a return to the living God, our Creator, the guarantor of our freedom, the guarantor of what is really good and true ... an unconditional return to God Who is the measure of what is right and Who at the same time is everlasting love. And what could ever save us apart from love?" (Address at youth vigil, Cologne, 8/20/2005).

LOVE ENABLES

Love ... is the force that enables us to make a commitment to truth, to justice, to peace...

(Source: Message for World Day of Peace, dated 12/8/2011)