VATICAN (CNS) In the second edition of the Popecast podcast, produced by Vatican Media in Italian and released on July 25, Pope Francis responded to the stories of young people, recorded ahead of World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, scheduled for August 1 to 6.
In the first episode of the podcast released in March, the pope looked back on the first 10 years of his pontificate. Popecast’s latest episode focused on marginalised youth
“The Lord always walks with us, even if we are sinners he comes toward us to help us,” the pope said after hearing from Giona—Jonah in Italian—who described how his faith helped him accept his identity and body despite his disability. “The Lord loves us as we are. This is God’s crazy love,” the pope said.
Like the prophet Jonah, “people are often stubborn,” he said, “and that stubbornness closes us” to God’s love. Yet the pope urged Giona to “not surrender” and recalled that “God always caresses us” and “walks with us,” even if it is sometimes difficult to feel.
Pope Francis then heard from two young men who shared how they resorted to crime and violence in response to their troubled backgrounds.
The pope told them, “You were not alone on your journeys, not even when you made terrible mistakes; the Lord was there, ready to take you by the hand, ready to lift you. It was he who created the circumstances in history to lift you both up.”
Addressing all young people, Pope Francis urged them to attend World Youth Day, responding to those who may not feel like going by saying “it is worth it to take the risk. In life, [the one] who doesn’t take risks doesn’t move forward.”
The pope also responded to nine-year-old Alessandro who ask if there would ever be a World Children’s Day.
“It would be nice,” the pope said, “and we can ask grandparents to organise it. I will think about it and see how to do it.”
Pope Francis told him: “Say hello to your grandparents for me.”
