World Youth Day 2019 USA Leader Guides International Leader Guide | Page 11

An Encounter with Jesus Christ continuous renewal of his or her friendship
Pope Francis invites “all Christians, with Jesus. Pope Francis, in his 2015 World
everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed Youth Day Message, gave a few ways for
personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least pilgrims to renew this friendship every day:
an openness to letting him encounter them.” 2 through participation in the Sacraments,
What does it mean to have a personal particularly Eucharist and Reconciliation,
encounter with Jesus Christ? It means reading Sacred Scripture, personal prayer, and
experiencing him in the Sacraments, in the serving those in need, particularly the poor. 5
Scriptures, in prayer, in others, and in service to Ministry leaders are encouraged to encounter
others. This encounter is at the core of who we Christ on a constant basis. In this way, they will
are as Christians. As Pope Benedict XVI said: be credible witnesses when they invite their
“Being Christian is not the result of an ethical pilgrims to do the same.
choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an
event, a person, which gives life a new horizon An Encounter with the Church
and a decisive direction.” 3 The encounter with Jesus Christ is always in
and through his Church. The Church is spread
WYD is an opportunity offered by the Church throughout the world and a WYD leader will
to all young people to encounter Christ. Many need to be prepared for this encounter with the
people talk about their experience of WYD as Church Universal and her chief shepherd, the
“life-changing.” They experience Christ and his Holy Father.
Church in a unique and special way. Leaders
need to recognize this opportunity. As Pope The Pope, who is Vicar of Christ, “is the
Francis notes, the encounter is really the perpetual and visible source and foundation of
developing of a “friendship” with Jesus. 4 The the unity both of the bishops and of the whole
pilgrimage leader can assist the young people in company of the faithful.” 6 WYD is a public
developing their friendship with Jesus Christ; opportunity for young people to witness the
this is made possible by the leader’s own unity of the Church in the midst of its diversity.
2 5
Pope Francis, Message for the 30 th World Youth Day, 3.
6
Lumen Gentium, 32, Catechism of the Catholic Church, 882.
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, no. 3.
3
Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, no. 1; cited by Pope
Francis in EG, no. 7.
4
See Evangelii Gaudium, no. 266.
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