Pope says young people attracted to Jesus, Gospel

Published: 2007-08-09

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Contrary to what many may think, young people are strongly attracted to Jesus Christ and the Gospel, Pope Benedict XVI told thousands of Spanish youths. The pope urged some 5,000 pilgrims from Youth Mission of Madrid to continue to help their peers discover they are all loved by God and that his is "the only love that never fails and never ends." The pope spoke to the young people packed inside the courtyard of his papal summer residence, south of Rome, Aug. 9. He also greeted thousands of young people who could not fit inside the confined courtyard and gathered outside the residence's entrance. Pope Benedict sat and listened from his balcony as five young adults described how they grew closer to God and the church through their evangelization efforts with Madrid's Youth Mission missionary initiative. The program, spearheaded by Madrid Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela, helps prepare young Catholics to evangelize their peers.

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