Pope's commitment to youth displayed at WYD

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Last month, I was blessed to be among more than 100 diocesan youth and young adults at the amazing and life-changing World Youth Day in Toronto.

One of the most awesome aspects was being in the presence of the pope -- to listen to his speeches, and to celebrate the Mass with him.

Pope John Paul was an inspiration because of his commitment to youth. His presence, despite the great physical burden of traveling, spoke volumes about his love for us.

The theme was "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world" (Mt 5:13-14). The pope continually challenged the youth of today to be salt and light. At the Evening Vigil he said, "Let the light of Christ shine in your lives! Do not wait until you are older in order to set out on the path of holiness! Holiness is always youthful, just as eternal as the youthfulness of God."

He took every opportunity to tell us that the world "needs to be touched and healed by the beauty and richness of God's love." He called us to be witnesses to that love by being salt and light.

To youth called to priesthood and consecrated life, he urged, "Do not be afraid to follow Christ on the royal road of the Cross!" And to the millions of youth around the world who live in fear, the pope said, "... no fear is so great that it can completely suffocate the hope that springs eternal in the hearts of the young. Do not let that hope die! Stake your lives on it!"

"The aspiration that humanity nurtures, amid countless injustices and sufferings, is the hope of a new civilization marked by freedom and peace," he said. "But for such an undertaking, a new generation of builders is needed. Moved not by fear or violence but by the urgency of genuine love, they must learn to build, brick by brick, the city of God within the city of man. Allow me, dear young people, to consign this hope of mine to you: you must be those 'builders'! ... The future is in your hearts and in your hands. God is entrusting you to the task, at once difficult and uplifting, of working with him in the building of the civilization of love."

I am confident that, by God's grace, the youth of today will answer the pope's call, take up the Cross of Christ, and help build the civilization of love.