WORLD YOUTH DAY

John Paul Speaks

Notable quotations from Pope John Paul II and official
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church

"CELEBRATING AND MEETING JESUS CHRIST"

To celebrate the Jubilee can have no other meaning than that of celebrating and meeting Jesus Christ...

"TO SERVE CHRIST IS FREEDOM!"

Let Christ govern your young lives; serve Him with love. To serve Christ is freedom!

YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO CHRIST

Each one of you is precious to Christ, He knows you personally, He loves you tenderly, even when you are not aware of it.

"BE MOULDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT"

Let yourselves be moulded by the Holy Spirit. Spend time in prayer, letting the Spirit speak to your hearts. To pray means to give some of your time to Christ, to entrust yourselves to Him, to listen in silence to His word, to make it echo in your hearts.

"THE GIFT OF A LIVING FAITH"

Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your minds, ask Him for the gift of a living faith, which will forever give meaning to your lives, joining them to Christ, the Word made flesh.

"DO NOT DOUBT GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU"

Do not doubt God's love for you! He has reserved for you a place in His heart and a mission in the world.

"THE CHURCH NEEDS YOU"

Do not be afraid to accept your responsibilities: the Church needs you, she needs your commitment and generosity; the Pope needs you and ... he is asking you to take the Gospel on the paths of the world.

"LOVE CHRIST AND LOVE THE CHURCH!"

Love Christ and love the Church! Love Christ as He loves you. Love the Church as Christ loves her.

"TRUE LOVE SETS NO CONDITIONS"

Do not forget that true love sets no conditions; it does not calculate or complain but simply loves.

SET THE EUCHARIST AT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE

Set the Eucharist at the center of your personal life and community life: love the Eucharist, adore the Eucharist and celebrate it, especially on Sundays... Live the Eucharist by testifying to God's love for every person.

"YOU WILL SET THE WHOLE WORLD ABLAZE!"

The Pope follows you with affection and, paraphrasing St. Catherine of Siena's words, reminds you: "If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!"(cf. Letter 368).

(Sources: Address at St. John Lateran 8/15/00, Address in St. Peter's Square 8/15/00, International Youth Forum Mass 8/17/00, Closing World Youth Day Mass 8/20/00)