A Letter of Pope Francis to

the Youth of the World

Chapter 2: Jesus,
ever young
 “JESUS”
Young among the young in order to be an example for
the young and to consecrate them to the Lord.
“Youth is an original and stimulating
stage of life, which Jesus himself
experienced, thereby sanctifying it.”
Jesus’
Youth
Jesus was found in
the temple and he
returned with his
parents and
obedient to them
growing in wisdom,
age and grace
before God and
men.
Jesus gave up
His spirit on a
cross when he
was little more
than thirty
years of age.
Jesus at the Wedding of Cana
Jesus’ Healing ministry
 Jesus talking with the teachers, scribes
and Pharisees
This details shows that he was just another young person of his
town, who related normally to others. That’s why people could not
imagine where he got his wisdom: “Is this not Joseph’s son?.”
(Lk. 4:22)
Jesus obedient to Joseph and Mary
 Jesus as a young adult shows him standing among the
crowds on the banks of the Jordan River to be baptized
by his kinsman, John the Baptist.
 Every young person who feels called to a mission in this
world, is invited to hear the Father speaking those same
words within his or her heart: ”You are my beloved Child”
 His Youth Teaches Us

Jesus’ life can prove inspiring for all those young people who are
developing and preparing to take up their mission in life. Awareness of
being part of the family and a people, and in openness to being filled
with the Holy Spirit and led to carry out the mission God gives them.
 Jesus does not teach you, young people,
from afar or from without, but from within
your very youth, a youth he shares with you.
 The Youth of the Church

Youth is more than simply a period of

time; it is a state of mind.
Young Saints in the Church
 Through the
holiness of the
young, the Church
can renew her
spiritual ardour and
her apostolic
vigour.

Beato Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio

(Incorrupt Body)
 Saint Sebastian was a
young captain of the
Praetorian guard. He
spoke constantly of
Christ and tried to
convert his companions
to the point that he was
ordered to renounced
his faith. Since he
refused, he was shot
with arrows, and yet he
survived, in the end he
was flogged to death.
 St. Francis of Assisi,
while very young and
full of great dreams,
heard Jesus’ call to
become poor like him
and to rebuild the
Church by his witness.
He joyfully renounced
everything he had and
now is the saint of
universal fraternity, the
brother of all. He
praised the Lord for His
creatures. Francis died in
1226.
St. Joan of Arc. She was a young peasant girl who despite of
her tender years, fought to defend France from invaders.
Misunderstood of his demeanor, her actions and her way of
living the faith, Joan was burned at the stake.
 Blessed Andrew Phu
Yen was a young
Vietnamese man of
the seventeenth
century. He was a
catechist and assisted
the missionaries. He
was imprisoned for
his faith, and since he
refused to renounce it,
he was killed uttering
the name of Jesus.
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, a young native of North America,
was persecuted for her faith and to escape, walked over
300 kilometers in the wilderness. Kateri consecrated
herself to God and died saying. “Jesus, I love You.”
Saint Dominic Savio,
offered all his
sufferings to Mary.
He was taught that
holiness involves
being constantly
joyful, he opened
his heart to a
contagious joy. Died
at 14 years of age
saying:”What a
wondrous thing I
am experiencing.”
St. Therese of the Child
Jesus, at 15 years of
age, she succeded in
entering Carmelite
convent despite of
many difficulties. She
lived the little way of
complete trust in the
Lord’s love and
determined to fan with
her prayers the fire of
love burning in the
heart of the church.
 Blessed Ceferino
Namuncura was a
yong Argentinian,
the son of the chief
of a remote tribe of
indigenous peoples.
He became a
salesian seminarian,
filled with the desire
to return to his tribe,
bringing Jesus Christ
to them. He died in
1905.