CELEBRATING THE HOLY YEAR

The Church is celebrating the Holy Year of Mercy, a time of grace, peace, conversion and joy. It is meant for everyone: people of every age, from far and near.

MERCY CAN'T BE STOPPED

There are no walls or distances which can prevent the Father's mercy from reaching and embracing us. The Holy Door is now open in Rome and in all the dioceses of the world.

THIS CONCERNS YOU

This grace-filled moment also concerns you, dear young people. I encourage you to take an active part in this celebration and to realize that each of you is a child of God.

"A GREAT PARTY"

The Jubilee ... is a time when we can discover that life together as brothers and sisters is like a great party, perhaps the most beautiful party we can imagine, the endless party that Jesus has taught us to celebrate by His Spirit. The Jubilee is the party to which Jesus invites us all, without excluding anyone.

GROW IN LOVE

To be merciful means to grow in a love which is courageous, generous and real. It means to grow physically and spiritually. You are preparing to be Christians capable of making courageous choices and decisions, in order to build daily, even through little things, a world of peace.

"AMAZING CHANGES"

Yours is a time of life which is full of amazing changes. Everything seems possible and impossible all at once. I repeat what I said to some of your friends: "Remain steadfast in the journey of faith, with firm hope in the Lord ..." (homily, 2013)

DON'T LOSE HOPE

... I cannot forget those of you who are living in situations of war, extreme poverty, daily troubles and loneliness. Don't ever lose hope! The Lord has a great dream which, with your help, He wants to come true!

BE BRAVE

Be brave and go against the tide; be friends of Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace...

BE COMMITTED

... Remember that you are committing yourselves to grow in holiness and to draw nourishment from the Gospel and the Eucharist, the Word and the Bread of life, in order to help build a more just and fraternal world.

(Message for the Jubilee of Mercy for young boys and girls, 1/6/16)