The ten most significant quotes from Pope Francis at WYD

Pope Francis was in Portugal for six days on the occasion of World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023. There were many speeches, homilies, greetings and blessings to the "wave of young people" who participated in the WYD in Lisbon 2023. In the October edition, the Salesian Bulletin collected the ten quotes that were particularly striking.

1. "Have the courage, then, to replace your doubts with dreams. Replace your doubts with dreams: do not remain hostage to your fears, but set about working to realize your goals!"

2. “In the Church there is room for everyone! Room for everyone!" No one is useless, no one is superfluous, there is room for everyone. As we are, all of us. And Jesus says this clearly when he sends the apostles to invite the man who had prepared the banquet for him. He says: ’Go and bring everyone, young and old, healthy and sick, righteous and sinners: everyone, everyone, everyone’."

3. “We were not automatically called, we were called by name. Let's think about this: Jesus called me by my name. They are words written in the heart.”

4. "May these be days in which to fix in the heart that we are loved as we are, not as we would like to be: as we are now. This is the starting point of WYD, but above all the starting point of life. Boys and girls: we are loved as we are, without makeup!"

5. "The only way, the only situation in which it is permissible to look at a person from above is... say it..., strongly: to help them get up."

6. “Mary’s joy is twofold: she had just received the angel’s message that she would welcome the Redeemer of the world, and she was also given the news that her cousin was pregnant This is interesting: instead of thinking about herself, she thinks of the other. Why? Because joy is missionary, joy is not just for one person, it is for sharing something with others."

7. “Nothing is free in life, everything has to be paid for. Only one thing is free: the love of Jesus! So, with this free gift that we have – the love of Jesus – and with the desire to carry on the journey, let us walk in hope, let us be mindful of our roots, and move forwards, without fear. Don't be afraid.”

8. "We do not become luminous when we exhibit a perfect, well-ordered, well-finished image, no; nor if we feel strong and successful, strong and successful, but not luminous. We become luminous, we shine when, by accepting Jesus, we learn to love like Him."

9. "Those who love do not stand idly by, but serve others. Those who love hasten to serve, hasten to dedicate themselves to the service of others."

10. "I want to tell you: carry on, keep riding the waves of love, of charity. Be 'surfers' of love!"

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