The WYD closing Mass began bright and early Sunday morning. An old traditional song, “Jesus Christ You are my Life, Alleluia!” was sung throughout the crowds, who showed their enthusiasm, after sleeping outside in St. John Paul II field all night.
Pope Francis then encouraged the youth, telling them that God's time is now. He said there is no 'meantime,' but only God's love that is ready to enter the hearts of all.
POPE FRANCIS
“You, dear young people, are not the future. We like to say, 'you are the future.' No, you are the present. You are not the future of God, but you are the now of God. He invites you and calls you in your communities. Calls you in the cities to go out and find your grandparents, your elders; to stand up and with them to speak out and realize the dream that the Lord has dreamed for you.”
He continued saying many times others, including adults, can stifle their dreams, energy and the mission that God has for them.
POPE FRANCIS
“Just as this 'make-believe' happiness, we 'tranquilize' you. We numb you into keeping quiet, so that you don't annoy us a lot, so that you don't ask, or ask us; so that you don't question, nor question us. In that 'meantime,' your dreams lose their buoyancy, they begin to fall asleep. They become small and sad dreams.”
The pope told the youth they must find a passion that fills them with wonder, joy and gratitude. This is their mission: to find what makes them fall in love.
POPE FRANCIS
“Whatever you fall in love with, it will win over not only your imagination, it will affect everything. We may possess everything, but, dear young people, if we lack the passion of love, we will have nothing. Let us allow the Lord to make us fall in love!”
At the end of the Mass, the excitement was building with chants and cheers as the place for the next WYD would be announced. This year, Card. Kevin Farrell, the Prefect for the Dicastery of Laity, Family and Life announced that the upcoming WYD would be in Portugal!
