Apostolic Journey to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on the Occasion of the 28 th World Youth Day
Go and make disciples of all nations! (cf. Mt 28:19) This was chosen theme for the 28 th
World Youth Day by our Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Also, in the message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for the event, he stated that the chosen theme was the missionary mandate of Christ to the whole church. It was a pressing call to the youth to be Disciples of Christ. They must go forth to gather all nations, and make them disciples. These disciples must firm their faith with the help of the whole Church. Lastly, they must proclaim, Here I am, Lord. (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) Pope Francis led the celebration of the 28 th World Youth Day. In line with the theme and message of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Pope Francis general prayer intention was: That World Youth Day in Brazil may encourage all young Christians to become disciples and missionaries of the Gospel (2013). The Pope wanted the experience of the delegates during the World Youth Day persuaded them to be followers and messengers of the Word of God. Pope Francis wants them to share their experience to everybody.
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Name: Holy Mass in the Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception of Aparecida Date: 24 July 2013 Pope Francis was talking about true discipleship. It was Mama Mary who taught the true discipleship to the Church. Above all people in the time of Jesus, Mama Mary knew Jesus the best because she was the one who loved and raised him. So, for those who want to be Disciples of Christ, they must ask guidance from Mama Mary. Also, Pope Francis pointed out that it is important to be hopeful, open with Gods surprises and living in joy to be a true disciple. Pope Francis wants to convey this message to the clergy, parents and educators because they are the one responsible in raising the youth to have a good value. Jose Rizal once said, Our young children are our countrys only hope. 1 The youth is the hope of every nation to achieve what everyone wants, a just, united and fraternal nation. That is why youth is a very important component of our society; they must also be molded with the three simple attitudes because they are the future of every nation. It is important to be hopeful, because God is our hope. He will show the light in the vast darkness. He never abandoned us. So, we must never loss hope and share this light of hope to others especially with the youth because they are the future of the Church and society. The next attitude was openness with Gods surprises. Hoping in God is also having faith in Him. Also, it means entrusting ourselves with Him. As a person who trusts Him, he opens his heart and mind with the surprises of God. God gives unexpected happenings even in our darkest time. Lastly, they must live in joy. If people hope and trust God with his surprises, there is no doubt that we will experience and cherish the joy it will give to us. God and Jesus is the one that gives humanity light, hope, love and future.
1 Translated: Ang Kabataan ang Pag-asa ng Bayan. Mauhay 3
First, the Pope wants us to knock on Marys door to ask for guidance on how to be a true disciple of Christ. Next, Pope Francis wants the clergy, parents, and educators to see the importance of the three simple attitudes, so that they can be true Disciples of Christ. In reference with the theme, we can deduct that Pope Francis wants the clergy, parents and educators help him to teach these attitudes to the youth, so that they can be Disciples of Christ also. In John 2:5, Mama Mary said, do whatever he tells you. The Pope reminds us to follow Christ without asking why he wants us to do this and that. Jesus will always command us to good and not to do bad so, it is not important to ask him why because we already knew the answer. In life, we always hope that good things happen to us, and if God grants us our wish, then we become so happy. Also, when we hope for something and it was not given to us, we doubt Him and became sad. However, if a person hopes and trusts God with his surprises, if good things or even bad things happen, he will surely live in joy because he will still hope in Gods name and trust God that better things will be given to him. First of all, I think the Pope really wants the elder people to know and understand how to develop true discipleship. He wants them to teach what they have learned to the youth because the youth is the future of every nation. The Pope wants to show to us that if we develop true discipleship through following Jesus Christ, we can attain our dream to have a just, fraternal and united nation. Also, I think that Pope Francis wants us to make this a tradition; to pass to our filial generations to be true Disciples of Christ. Lastly, I think Pope Francis wants to show us that Christ is the one who can give us hope, love and the path to eternal life. Name: Welcoming Ceremony for the Young People Date: 25 July 2013 Mauhay 4
First of all, Pope Francis welcomes all of the youth delegations in the World Youth Day. He said that, it is Jesus who welcomes them. Like Peter said during the transfiguration of Jesus Christ, it is good to be here, the delegates must feel the same because they will experience the greatness of Jesus Christ. The Gospel came from Luke 9:35, This is my Son, my chosen one; listen to him! As Jesus welcomes the delegates of the event, they must also welcome Jesus and listen to him because he is the chosen one of God. As we must welcome and put on Christ in our lives, we will follow his teachings. As we follow his teachings, Christ will put love, hope and light in our life. Pope Francis wants to convey this message especially to the youth, not just those who attend the World Youth Day, but all. Jesus Christ is the chosen one by God who can give us love, peace, courage, joy and hope. He was the one who shows to us the meaning of a fruitful life, a life to serve other people. It is neither the material things nor us that give us a meaningful life, but Jesus. As for the youth, Christ awaits them to let him enter their life. Those youth will have a life full of friendship, faith, love, service and goodness. Pope Francis wants to say this to everyone because many people believe that the meaning of life is the success of having material things and believing their selves, but it is not. Temptations are all around us. Many people define fulfillment by possessing what they desire. They are full by the material things, but their spirits are empty. Nowadays, the young ones possess all the iPad, iPhone, PSP, and other gadgets that they desire. However, in terms of their spiritual growth, they were not able to nourish it. Thus, they grew weak. Pope Francis wants to inform all people that putting on Christ in our life will nourish the part that lack in our spirit. As we put Christ in our life, He will put on love, hope and light. By then, the one who puts on Christ in his life will truly have fruitful life. Also, he will feel the fulfillment of his life. Pope Francis Mauhay 5
wants the youth to experience the love of Christ, witness the Gospel and carry the ray of light to their homeland. I think that Pope Francis wants to tell the message especially for the youth because they grow weak, in a sense that they live by the means of Earth. He wants them to grow with a strong faith in Him. Having a strong faith in Him will nurture the youth to do good and thus, they will help to build a just, fraternal and united nation. I think that Pope Francis wants them to carry the light because he wants them to carry the message of Christ to all people. The Pope wants them to be missionaries, like him, proclaiming the greatness of the love of Jesus Christ in the world. Name: Way of the Cross with the Young People Date: 26 July 2013 The Cross of Christ is a symbol of Christs sacrifice and redemptive love for humanity to cleanse our sins and suffering. As for the youth, its our mission to deliver this cross all over the world (Blessed John Paul II, 1984). Pope Francis said that the cross was been part of our life in three different ways. We left something in the cross and it left something to us. Also, it taught us that we either belong to the people who follow Jesus or the people who do not believe in Him. Pope Francis addressed this homily to everyone, but especially for the youth. First, What have we left in the Cross? Fear, sufferings, problems and sins are the thing we left in the Cross. We all have our own crosses; each of our crosses signifies our burdens in life. But, Jesus, with his Cross, accepts all of our burdens to be his burden. Then, our pain will be relieved. As he accepts our suffering with open arms, we must accept him with open arms also. We must embrace him. Next, what has the Cross of Jesus left for us? The Cross lets us experience the great and undying love of God which cleanses our souls from our sins and forgive us from everything that we did wrong. The cross shows us the immeasurable mercy of the Lord Almighty Mauhay 6
to the humanity which gives us strength to conquer even death. Jesus, the only one who overcomes death, will show us the path to the paradise of God. Lastly, what does the Cross teach us? The Cross wants us let Christ enter our life and cherish the overflowing love of God. Also, it taught us to open our arms and lend our hands for those people who are in need without expecting any benefits from it. The Cross asks us, what path did we choose? To be like Pontius Pilate who let Jesus be crucified or be like Simon of Cyrene, Mary and the others who accompany and help Jesus to carry his Cross until the end. It is showing us that we have the choice to help one another to carry our crosses. In John 3:16, Jesus Christ said to us, have courage! You do not carry your cross alone! I carry it with you. I have overcome death and I have come to give you hope, to give you life. The Pope wants to remind us that we are not alone. We have Jesus, our family and friends. If we let Jesus enter our life, he will help us to carry our burdens and relive our pain. Pope Francis wants us to place Jesus in our hearts because he will understand us, forgive us from our sins and bring joy into our lives. Lastly, the Pope wants us to share the love of Jesus to everyone. I think Pope Francis do not want us to doubt God. When we experience hardships, we doubt God and ask, why did you do this to me? The Pope wants us to rethink that even Jesus experienced hardships even death. He wants us to know that bad things dont come from God, but from evil. Those evils try to deceive us, and they despise God. However, God show us his endless mercy by giving his Son to us, He showed to us that we can overcome our hardships and even death can be conquered. I think that Pope Francis wants us to follow Christ and listen to his teachings because he is the only one can give us true joy and eternal life.
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Name: Mass with the Bishops, Priests, Religious and Seminarians Date: 27 July 2013 Pope Francis said that they were all gathered there to praise God. He also said that the bishops, priests and others are the instrument of the Lord to spread the greatness of the Lord to all humans. As being part of the World Youth Day, it is their tasks to introduce Christ to the heart of the youth. The Pope asks the church people to reflect on their vocation in three aspects namely; called by God, to proclaim the Gospel, and to promote the culture of encounter. The intended audience of the pontiff was the church people. The first part of the homily was about the aspect that the bishops, priests, seminarians and other church people were called by God. Jesus is the one who chose them to be servants of God. It is their destiny to spread the love of God. They must not forget their faith on Christ because this will make them fruitful in a way that they can fulfill their mission, to spread the love of the Lord to the humanity. They must live with Christ in their life. The next aspect was that they were called to proclaim the Gospel. They are the missionaries of Christ. They will serve as the farmer who will plant the seed of faith in every people, especially to the youth so that, as they grow up, their faith in Christ will bloom and bear the fruit of everlasting life with the Lord. Also, those youth will be the new missionaries of Christ to proclaim the Gospel to everyone. Lastly, they are called to promote the culture of encounter. They must go against the tide. Fight for the equality of the right of people, especially for the abused people. Fraternity and solidarity makes society truly for humans. Promote the encounter of having an eternal life full of greatness by God. In the homily, Pope Francis said that he wants a church capable of accompanying the people on the road back to Jerusalem. Pope Francis wants the church people to rethink why they Mauhay 8
were in Church. He wants to remind the clergy that it is their task to show the gloriousness and joy brought by Jesus Christ to mankind. For the past years, a lot of controversies arose against the Catholic Church. It showed the weakness of the Church. Also, it showed that some of the servants of God were misled by the earthly thing such as power and money. The Pope wants the church people to fully understand their vocation, so that they can show to everyone the joy brought by Jesus. In the World Youth Day, Pope Francis wants the clergy to lead the youth to experience the greatness of the Lord. The Pope wants the youth to experience the Christian Joy. The Pope wants the clergy to inform the people that Mary is always with us and we are not orphans.
I think that the Pope wants the church people to rekindle about their vocation. I think he wants them to remember that they serve as the role models of the people in following Jesus Christ. He wants the church people present during the mass to be ready for the last day of the World Youth Day. Pope Francis wants the clergy to be always ready and be perfect examples of Disciples of Christ. Name: Prayer Vigil with the Young People Date: 27 July 2013 Pope Francis retells the story of Saint Francis of Assisi where the saint heard the voice of God from the crucifix saying, Francis, go, rebuild my church. God wants to Francis to reestablish the life of the church. The pontiff said that Lord needs the every youth that was present during the vigil. The Lord wants them to be his disciple missionaries. They must show the world that they were the Field of Faith of God. Pope Francis used three images of fields to help the youth to understand the meaning of being a disciple/missionary of the God. This field was a place where you sow seeds, a training ground, and a construction site. Mauhay 9
This homily is for the youth. The homily was about the Field of Faith of God. First, this Field of Faith of God was where the seeds were sown. Jesus is the one sowing seeds in the heart of the people who follows him. The sown seed will be cultivated by God. We must entrust God ourselves without any doubt. It will bloom our spirituality and connection to Him. Next, Jesus wants us to train and train. He wants us to live our life for Him. The trophy that we can get by living with the team of Christ is way better than the World Cup trophy. The trophy that Jesus offers is a fruitful life; a life full of happiness. Also, the greatest trophy of all is the eternal life in heaven. Our training to be missionary disciples of Christ is to pray, pray and pray. No matter what happen, we must talk, speak and listen to Christ. As we listen to Christ, we will be trained to understand, help and do not judge others. Lastly, this field is a construction site. The youth with every that follows Christ build the home of the Lord, the Church. Every disciple of Christ will serve as the building block of His Church; a living church that will cater everyone in the world. He wants us to spread his Word to everyone and construct this Church In reality, our world is full of crimes, injustices, immoralities and more. Why? Many people are blinded by evils and false Prophets. Pope Francis wants the people not to be misled, especially the youth. It is through Christ that we will experience a utopian world because through Christ, impossible things happen. He wants us to open our hearts to Christ. The pontiff wants the youth to lead the change because we are the future of every nation. He wants us to rebuild the Home of the Lord. He wants us to rebuild our world and make it a better place for everyone. The youth are the leaders for the future of everybody. He wants the youth to have empathy with everyone. He wants us to fight the racism, immoralities, discrimination and etc. He wants to be involve, and dont just observe. Mauhay 10
What do I think are the Popes reason? First, there are a lot of people who were misled in their life. Next, there are people who want to know how to meet Christ. There are a lot of problems that we encounter in our life. Pope Francis wants us to conquer it and not be like, let-it- be-attitude. He wants us to know that with Jesus in our life, we can easily conquer it all. Most of all, as state above, he wants the youth to lead the transformation in our society. He wants the youth to pioneer the rebuilding of the Church and of the world. Lastly, I think Pope Francis wants us to follow Christs command every time. Name: Holy Mass on the Occasion of the XXVIII World Youth Day Date: 28 July 2013 On the last day of the World Youth Day, Pope Francis restated the vision of the event, "Go and make disciples of all nations." He said that Jesus Christ is speaking to the delegates and saying, It was wonderful to take part in World Youth Day, to live the faith together with young people from the four corners of the earth, but now you must go, now you must pass on this experience to others. Jesus tasked the delegates to be his mission disciples. Also, Jesus said that they must go, do not be afraid and serve. The homily is for the delegates of the World Youth Day because they are now missionary disciples of Christ. The youth has experienced the joy of faith during the World Youth Day. Now, it is their task to disseminate the Words of God. The word of God is for everyone, not just for some, so that they may also feel the love and mercy of God. Jesus commands us not like a slave but as a friend and a family. Next, youth must not be afraid to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, just because they are young or any form of hindrances because Jesus is always with us. He will guide us every time. Also, Jesus did not sent only one missionary but a bunch of them, Mauhay 11
especially the Church and the Saints. Lastly, we must serve the Lord. We must sing a new song to Lord; the song of our life. It is the life where we share it with Jesus. As servants of Christ, we must live how he lived. We must overcome our selfishness and serve other people. Put our life to serve others. Following the three ideas will let the people who are giving joy to others experience the joy. As the disciples serve God through service to others, He will grant them the things that they do good to others. Saint Peter said, Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! (1 Cor 9:16) Like Saint Peter, we must commit ourselves to Christ. We must always go and not be afraid to proclaim the Word of God, because He will protect us. The Pope wants the youth to lead the evangelization of the youth. In the mass, Pope Francis said, Bringing the Gospel is bringing Gods power to pluck up and break down evil and violence, to destroy and overthrow the barriers of selfishness, intolerance and hatred, so as to build a new world. The Pope wants the youth to go and do not be afraid because the Church and God will always accompany us. I think the Pope wants the youth to fight for what is right, as they spread the Word of God in the world. I think that Pope Francis wants us to entrust ourselves to Christ because He will not let us to be harmed. He wants us to know that God is always with us. He wants the youth to rebuild the Church which can accommodate everyone. He wants the youth to prepare theirselves, as they leave the event, to serve and proclaim the Gospel to the world. He believes that the youth is the best missionary disciples of Christ because they are the future of the world and of the Church.
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Pope Francis homilies can be classified into three things; Go and make disciples, Christian joy and Discipleship. First, Pope Francis talks about true discipleship. According to Pope Francis, Mama Mary was the best example of true discipleship. Also, Pope Francis talked about three simple attitudes needed to be a true disciple; hopefulness, openness to Gods surprises and to live in joy. Furthermore, it is important to put on Christ to our lives. The love of God is can be seen through the Cross of Jesus. We had imparted something on it, as it left something to our life. In addition, Pope Francis talked to the church people about their vocation. Next, Pope Francis talked about the Christian Joy. Christian joy is living a fruitful life; a life living in harmony with other people. Eternal life with the Lord is offered to us by Christ. It will give us eternal joy. Lastly, as missionary disciples of Christ, we must go and make disciples of all nations. We must rebuild the Church of Christ. The missionary disciples will serve as the building blocks of this Church that will be home of every people. It is a waking call for the youth. The Pope wants the youth to initiate and lead the rebuilding of the Church. He wants them to be missionary disciples of Christ and experience the Christian Joy. He wants them to know that like the church people, they are called by God to proclaim the Gospel and share the experience of encounter with Christ. He wants the youth with the other disciples of Christ to live their life following Christ. He wants the youth to fight for what is just. He wants the seed of the Word God planted in the youth that open their heart for Christ to bloom. I think Pope Francis wants the youth help him to introduce Christ to every people. I think he wants the youth to be involved and fight for what is just. Also, I think that like Jesus, the Pope is counting in the youth for the future of the society and of the Church. Mauhay 13