Pope: ‘Never stand still, never stop moving forward’

By Joseph Tulloch

Pope Francis met on Friday morning with a group of young people from the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

In a brief address, the Pope reflected with the group of children and adolescents on the meaning of the pilgrimage, urging them to “never stop moving forward.”

Moving

The theme of the Jubilee Year 2025, the Pope said, is “Pilgrims of Hope.” The concept of pilgrimage, he stressed, is intrinsically linked to that of walking.

“This is what I would like to wish you,” said the Pope, “that you are always on the move.”

“Never stand still,” the Pope urged. “Never stop moving forward. »

The destination

But a pilgrim, the Pope emphasized, is not just someone who walks, but someone who has a destination – and, in the case of the pilgrims of this Jubilee year, that destination is the Holy Door.

The Holy Door, said the Pope, is of course a symbol, one that represents Jesus Christ, who is the mystery of salvation, “which allows us to enter into a new life.”

This is why, the Pope underlined, “I would like to wish you not only to be on the move, but also to be pilgrims, that is to say, eager to meet Jesus, to know him and to listen to his Word” .

Pilgrims of hope

Pope Francis concluded his speech by giving the example of several young people – Pier Giorgio Frassati, Saint Francis and Saint Clare, Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus – who have chosen to live their lives in this way.

“Dear friends,” declared the Pope, “they are “pilgrims of hope”, young people who have met the Lord Jesus and walked with him… Let us take this path, and we too can become small signs of hope for those we meet.”