Vatican City. Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life. The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive, and he wants you to be alive! These are the first words of Pope Francis in the April 2 released post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit (Christ is alive) to the young people and the entire people of God which he signed on March 25, Feast of the Annunciation, at the Shrine of the Holy House in Loreto, Italy.
The exhortation is divided into nine chapters: 1. What does the word of God have to say about young people?; 2. Jesus, ever young; 3. You are the “now” of God; 4. A great message for all young people; 5. Paths of youth; 6. Young people with roots; 7. Youth Ministry; 8. Vocation; and 9. Discernment. For the complete text in different languages, click here: [ DE – EN – ES – FR – IT – PT ].
The Pope ends with these words: Dear young people, my joyful hope is to see you keep running the race before you, outstripping all those who are slow or fearful. Keep running, “attracted by the face of Christ, whom we love so much, whom we adore in the Holy Eucharist and acknowledge in the flesh of our suffering brothers and sisters. May the Holy Spirit urge you on as you run this race. The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us”.
