Young Voices Express Gratitude to Pope in Assisi
At the conclusion of Pope Leo XIV's Mass in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, a young man named Francesco Varone appealed to the Holy Father to pray for the courage to follow Christ. Varone stated that…
At the conclusion of Pope Leo XIV's Mass in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi, a young man named Francesco Varone appealed to the Holy Father to pray for the courage to follow Christ. Varone stated that in Jesus, "no one is a stranger, no one is excluded."
Pope Leo XIV's visit was described by Varone as "an embrace," symbolizing the Pope's commitment to walking alongside the People of God and sharing in their aspirations and challenges. During the Mass, Varone expressed gratitude, noting that the Pope's presence encouraged young individuals to embrace goodness and to trust in the transformative power of the Gospel.
Varone articulated the sentiments of many young people, voicing their struggles with "the pain of fragmentation and fear of loneliness." He described the encounter in Assisi as instrumental, stating that it allowed youths to witness firsthand that Jesus facilitates unity and that they are not alone, which aligns with Pope Leo's episcopal motto: In Illo uno, meaning "In the One, we are one."
In concluding his remarks, Varone requested that Pope Leo XIV intercede for the youth, asking him to pray that they may always find the courage to choose Christ. He emphasized the need for awareness of His voice amid the distractions of daily life and hoped that youth might dedicate their lives to service. Varone closed his address by thanking the Pope, affirming, "Thank you, Holy Father, because today you make us feel that we are the Church."
