His Holiness Pope Tawadros II held a meeting this evening with the youth of the Diocese of Milan at the Church of the Annunciation in the city of Paderno, as part of his current pastoral visit to Milan and Venice, which he began on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by His Grace Bishop Antonio (Bishop of Milan), some priests of the diocese, the monks of the Monastery of Saint Abba Shenouda in Milan, the delegation accompanying His Holiness, His Grace Bishop Louka (Bishop of the French sector of Switzerland and Southern France), and some priests from Geneva.
The meeting was also attended by the Governor of Paderno, who delivered a loving speech before the start of His Holiness’ talk.
His Holiness’ talk was also preceded by the diocese’s youth choir presenting a group of church hymns and praises, which they performed in a distinguished manner. They were well received by His Holiness and the audience. His Holiness praised them, encouraged them, and took commemorative photos with them.
The meeting was attended by nearly 1,000 young men and women. His Holiness spoke about the topic of “Renewal.” He read part of the epistle of our teacher St Paul the Apostle to the Romans: ” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Romans 12:1-3)
He highlighted some Christian principles on the subject of renewal:
1- Christianity believes in renewal and creativity:
Internally- through repentance. “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:10)
Externally- through your behaviors and image in society
2- Christianity believes in beauty and art:
“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
3- Christianity respects and reveres the body: What distinguishes a Christian is that he is born again through baptism and his body is sanctified with the Holy Myroon Oil by being anointed with it 36 times. It was one of the spices used to anoint the body of Jesus Christ. Oil was added to it and it was prayed upon. Christianity does not approve of burning the body because it respects it.
4- Christianity sanctifies personal freedom:
We walk through life like someone walking between the banks of a river. The first bank is the fixed commandment, the other bank is the law of society and our respect for it.
What is rejected by Christianity?
Using the flesh in renewal through sexual immortality, or complacency and rejection of the commandment (homosexuality), as the commandment says: “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’” (Mark 10:6)
Renewal is also rejected in the course of religious history and the Holy Bible. Heresies and gospels have appeared, such as the Gospel of the Egyptians, the Gospel of childhood and the Da Vinci Code.
We reject all forms of impurity, as the world is full of evil and companies make profits from this trade.
In this context, I would like to say some facts:
1- Christ is the satisfaction of man because He is the Creator.
2- Christ is the satisfier because He is the Redeemer. He is the one who offered forgiveness on the Cross, and He is the only one who can erase our sins
3- Christ is the one who satisfies because He is the judge. He is the one who will judge the whole world, so it is beautiful for you to know Him and live with Him in holiness: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)
I hope we live by the principle of “select and reject”; choosing the good and leaving the bad.
Beware of:
1- Bad friends.
2- Thoughts of sin.
3- Impure habits.
4- Know the causes of falls.
“What you do in your youth, God will return to you in your old age.” Saint Abba Pachomius
He concluded with moving words addressed to the youth: “I love you and I love your love for the Church. Your roots are Egyptian and you live in a European country with advanced ideas that have made you distinguished young people. And I want to tell you that since I became Pope, this is the first time that I have met twice with a group of youth in the space of five months. There seems to be a magnet here!”
His Holiness gave a memorial gift to each of the youth. He took commemorative photos with them and blessed them.
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