Pope to university students: ‘Stay true to your convictions and faith’

Deborah Castellano Lubov

Always stay true to your convictions….and even if you are tempted to live a lukewarm faith because others torment you, stay true to who you are and stay strong like the persecuted Christian martyrs…

This message was at the heart of Pope Francis' remarks during a dialogue with university students from Asia. They participated, Thursday, June 20, in the event “Building bridges across the Asia-Pacific”, organized by Loyola University Chicago and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

The Holy Father participated via livestream.

Loyola University Chicago has launched the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), a series of student-centered, university-hosted events inspired by Pope Francis' call for synodality. The first meeting took place in February 2022, entitled “Building North-South bridges”. The second, “Building Bridges Across Africa,” took place in November of that year and involved students from across sub-Saharan Africa. This event followed a similar pattern, but welcomed the participation of the Pope.

Among the participants in this last synodal meeting were university students, in various fields, from the Ateneo de Manila University (Manila, Philippines); Australian Catholic University (Brisbane, Australia); Fu Jen Catholic University (Taipei, Taiwan); Sogang University (Seoul, South Korea); Sophia University (Tokyo, Japan); Universitas Sanata Dharma (Yogyakarta, Indonesia). Students from Singapore, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea, countries that the Holy Father will visit during his apostolic trip to Asia and Oceania in September, also participated.

Pope Francis: Ask others to help you in your vulnerability

Pope Francis joined the meeting, greeting those present warmly in Spanish and apologizing for being a little late due to some confusion with his agenda.

The student groups were presented to the Pope and offered reflections to which the Holy Father, in return, offered his advice, concerns and suggestions.

The Holy Father spoke to the first group about the feeling of belonging in society and how our “belonging” strengthens our security in ourselves and our own human dignity.

All these factors, he stressed, “save us from vulnerability, because today young people are very vulnerable. We must always defend this feeling of belonging to ward off vulnerability.”

“Look at where you are most vulnerable and ask someone to help you,” he said.

“The greatness of women must never be forgotten”

The Pope also discussed mental health, discrimination, stigma and identity, and called for witness and perseverance.

“Focus on your own identity,” he said, encouraging everyone present to always cooperate with each other and stay united.

The Pope denounced all the stigmata that undermine human dignity. He lamented that women are sometimes considered second-class citizens, which, he recalled, is not true.

“The greatness of women should not be forgotten. Women are better than men in terms of insight and ability to build communities,” he said, while praising the special qualities and skills of women.

No to exclusion and stigma

The Pope called on students to show closeness and love towards others, and never exclude them.

Recalling the words of a student who spoke about gender and also mentioning the high rate of HIV in the Philippines, the Pope said: “We must ensure that health care is prepared to treat and help everyone, without exclusion “.

The Pope also spoke of effective education, which he said requires “educating” and “coordinating” our “hearts, minds and hands.”

This is how we must educate young people, he said, emphasizing that this dynamic must never be forgotten.

Hearts connected to prayer and to others

The Pope also acknowledged how difficult it can be for young Christians to participate and “belong” to society.

In light of this reality, he urged them to hold on to their faith and keep their hearts connected to prayer.

This, the Pope said, will help you in this regard and enable you to engage always and more effectively with others.

Reject diluted Christianity and stay true to the faith

The Holy Father then spoke of the fact that sometimes young people are mocked or challenged because of their faith.

“Always stand firm in your own beliefs,” he advised, while warning against isolation, which he said can lead to bad habits and problems.

This is why the Pope stressed the importance of being educated in the faith and of being authentic and “true” Christians.

“The problem is this: Christians have been persecuted from the beginning,” he said, emphasizing that this phenomenon is not new.

“While it may be tempting to have a diluted and lukewarm Christianity,” the Pope said, we cannot give in to it. On the contrary, he said, “we must be solid and live a kind of martyrdom, in that sense.”

The “disease of ideology”

Finally, the Pope called for greater awareness of the tragedies of the past, to learn lessons for the future and to work for peace.

“Ideology is a disease,” he said, urging all people to build harmony and promote dialogue with other cultures.

“No to war,” he declared, calling for peace. “In a desperate, hopeless world, we must appeal to our values,” he explained, calling on the students present to work on it before thanking them for his efforts.

Pope Francis concluded by thanking the students for their reflections, telling them they helped him understand them, especially as he prepares for his trip to their region in early September. He concluded by offering his blessing.

Building bridges starts with each of us

Various Vatican bodies contributed to this initiative, including the General Secretariat of the Synod, the Dicastery for Communication, the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, the Dicastery for Education and Culture and the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for the first and new evangelization. Particular churches.

Before the Holy Father joined the dialogue, the event began with presentations from the organizers, including the Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, Dr. Emilce Cuda, and video messages from Cardinal Farrell , prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity and the Family. Life, followed by that of Mgr. Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA, undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops.

Cardinal Farrell called on students to follow Jesus' example in building bridges and reminded them that even though they live the privileged reality of being college students, there is a world marked by hatred, war and suffering. Given this, he invited those who followed him to show kindness, attention and understanding on a personal level, above all, because otherwise, he lamented, we cannot expect from those of higher levels that they do the same.

Bishop Marín delivered encouraging words in which he invited those present, in a time of hope and renewal, to “create connections, break down walls and build bridges.” While participants awaited the arrival of the Pope, Dr. Cuda also read a letter from the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, in which he acknowledged that building bridges can be a challenge and may encounter difficulties. and resistance, but it is always worth it, because he lives the love that Jesus taught us.