When we think of the Church’s support for our youth and young adults, we can’t help but think of our dear departed Pope, John Paul II. His love for youth and young adults was evidenced in so many ways, such as his close contact and professed love for them. Some even call him the “Pope of Youth.” One of his outreaches to youths and young adults was World Youth Days. He established World Youth Day in 1984 with the intention of bringing young Catholics from all parts of the world together to celebrate their faith. His Holiness began these World Youth Days in Rome on Palm Sunday, March 23, 1986 and attended each one personally, until this past year when his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, presided at World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. So what was Pope John Paul’s message to our Youth over those 19 years?  What truths did he wish the youth and young adults to hear and keep in their hearts?

             As I explored the scriptural themes of each of his messages over those years, it became clear to me that they center on God’s love for youth and young adults, and are a call for them to do God’s will in their lives. What an honor to hear God speaking through his servant, John Paul II. Rather than try to further analyze these themes, it seems more appropriate to list them and allow readers to discern their own personal meaning – especially our youth and young adults.

 1.          3/23/86   "Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you" (1 Pt 3:15)

 

2.         4/11-12/87  “We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love towards ourselves” (1 Jn 4:16)

 

3.         3/27/88  “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5)

 

4.         8/15-20/89  “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14:6)

 

5.         4/8/1990   “I am the vine, you are the branches” (Jn 15:5)

 

6.         8/10-15/91  “You have received a spirit of sonship” (Rom 8:15)

 

7.         4/12/92  “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel” (Mk 16:15)

 

8.         8/10-15/93  “I came that they might have life, and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10)

 

9.         3/27/94  (Combined with 1995 Theme)

 

10.        1/10-15/95  “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you” (Jn 20:21)

 

11.        3/31/96  “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”  (Jn 6:68)

 

12.        8/19-24/97  “Teacher, where are you staying? Come and see” (cf. Jn 1:38-39)

 

13.        4/5/98  “The Holy Spirit will teach you all things” (cf. Jn 14:26)

 

14.        3/28/99  “The Father loves you” (cf. Jn 16:27)

 

15.        8/15-20/00 (Jubilee Year)  “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14)

 

16.        4/8/01  “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow                              me” (Lk 9:23)

 

17.        7/23-28/02  “You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:13-14)

 

18.        4/13/03  "Behold, your mother!" (Jn 19:27)

 

19.        4/4/04   “We wish to see Jesus"  (Jn 12:21)

 

20.        8/21/05  “Jesus becomes for us the bread that sustains and feeds us.” (cf. Jn 6:35) – (Pope Benedict XVI)               

May God continue to bless our youth and young adults with His love and mercy, His joy and comfort, and give them good discernment to know His will in their lives and the courage to follow it each and every day.  

(The entire message given at each of the World Youth Days can be found at  www.vatican.va/gmg/document/index.htmel. Click on the desired year and then the desired message.)

 Dick Lajiness and his wife, Sue, serve in the healing ministry at their parish, St. Anne, in Monroe, Michigan.

Dick is a member of the DCCR Assembly, representing the South Region.