Pope Francis has addressed a message to the youth participating in the 46th European Meeting organized by the Taizé Community, currently taking place in Slovenia.

In his message, signed by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the young people, emphasizing the Church's need for them “to be fully itself.”

“As the Church,” the Holy Father clarified, “you are the Body of the Risen Lord present in the world.” He then expressed regret that “we live in a noisy world where the values of silence and listening are drowned out,” inviting the youth to rediscover this “profound dimension,” which he described as “an act of love.”

Pope Francis also remarked that we live in “difficult times,” with conflicts and wars spread across the globe.

In this context, he urged them to dare “to build a different world, a world of listening, dialogue, and openness, to show other dreams that this world does not offer” and to bear witness “to the beauty of generosity, service, purity, courage, and forgiveness.”

He encouraged them to be examples of “faithfulness to their vocation, prayer, the fight for justice and the common good, love for the poor, and social friendship.”

One of the challenges facing young people, according to the Holy Father, is to “walk together” to “work for the qualitative transformation of life in our societies.”

Explaining “walking together” means “blocking the path to marginalization, closure, exclusion, and rejection of any category of people.” “We must commit to living as our Master and Lord Jesus, who excluded no one from His path,” he stated.

Pope Francis expressed his trust in the youth and also invited them to realize their dreams of “love, justice, and peace,” as well as to live in the present.

“Do not sacrifice your precious youth on the altar of false pleasures and superficiality. Do not let your dreams be stolen,” Pope Francis implored the youth.

This article was originally published on ACI Prensa.