The Bishop Emeritus of Leiria-Fátima, Cardinal Antonio Augusto dos Santos Marto, and special envoy of Pope Francis for the European Youth Pilgrimage to be held from August 3 to 7 in Spain, has encouraged young people to join this meeting.
“This pilgrimage is very important for the young people of Europe”, emphasizes Bishop Dos Santos, who also invites them “to take seriously the responsibility for today and for tomorrowfor the present and for the future of the Church and of humanity”.
This call to responsibility is even more important, as Cardinal Santos explains, because “this pilgrimage has a particular meaning in the ecclesial context and in the world context”.
The special envoy of Pope Francis for the European Youth Pilgrimage considers that “we have before us a very wounded humanity due to the consequences of the pandemic and the war that stained the heart of Europe, in Ukraine, and that has repercussions worldwide.
In his opinion, it is also relevant “the scenario of the Church on its synodal journey, its evangelical renewal and its mission to find new paths, methods and languages for the proclamation of the Gospel, to bring the joy of the Gospel to all human and existential peripheries”.
“It will be a great experience for you, for the whole Church and for Europe”, the Cardinal concludes in a video message.
