Address of Pope John Paul II to Young People

"Young people, this is your hour. Christ has need of you.

He wants to have need of your persons, of your intelligences,

of your energies, of your love.

He wants to speak to the people of your day with your voice.

He wants to love with your heart, heal with your hands,

save through your efforts....think deeply on this.

You will have difficulties. I tell you that love

overcomes every difficulty. He himself gives you

the power of His love as a gift that is joined to the gift

of his call and makes your response possible.

Give your life to Christ, joyfully and without fear,

to him who first gave his life to you. Therefore

I encourage you to pray like this:

"Lord Jesus, who has called whom you willed,

call many of us to work for you, to work

with you. St Francis of Assisi, you who

brought Christ so near to the people of your time,

help us to bring Christ close to our times, to our

difficult and critical times. Help us to solve all

matters with the key of the gospel, in

simplicity as you have done".