Pope Francis Urges Catholics to be ‘Roots of Joy’

August 8, 2023220 views0

Pope Francis Urges Catholics to be ‘Roots of Joy’

2023-08-08T11:50:22+01:00

By Church News

Pope Francis recently urged attendees at World Youth Day to make themselves “roots of joy” in the lives of others, calling on the huge young crowd to draw on the “love of Jesus” to “walk in hope” as they journey through life.The Holy Father gave the address at the Saturday vigil that took place near the end of the World Youth Day celebrations in Lisbon, Portugal. The vigil took place in the city’s Parque Tejo.Pope Francis spent most of the week in Lisbon and the surrounding region, visiting with civil dignitaries, Church officials, and World Youth Day participants. On Saturday morning in Fátima he had prayed a rosary with young people with disabilities alongside a participatory crowd of about 200,000 attendees.On Saturday the pope addressed the crowd — estimated at upwards of 800,000 people — with the story of the Virgin Mary, who the Gospel of Luke says “departed and went without delay” to her cousin upon finding out she was pregnant with Christ.“That is what love makes us do,” the pope said. Joy, he said, “is missionary. Joy is not for one. It is to bring something.”“I ask you,” he said to the crowd, “you who are here, who have come to meet, to seek the message of Christ, to seek a beautiful meaning in life: Will you keep this for yourselves, or will you bring it to others?”ALSO READ: Choosing to Show Mercy – iBelieve Truth