World Youth Day USA Guides Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 18

international WYDs. Rather, a deeper

Benedict XVI stated, and Pope Francis

encounter with Jesus Christ and his Church

repeated in his apostolic exhortation: “Being

who accompanies the pilgrims and sends

Christian is not the result of an ethical choice

them forth to “go and make disciples”9 (Mt

or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an

28:19) should be the first and foremost goal

event, a person, which gives life a new

of any World Youth Day pilgrimage leader.

horizon and a decisive direction.”11

ENCOUNTER

World Youth Day is an opportunity offered

There are a variety of encounters that take

by the Church to all young people to

place in a World Youth Day pilgrimage,

encounter Christ. Many people have talked

stateside or otherwise: with Jesus Christ, with

about their experience of World Youth Day as

the Church, with other pilgrims, and with

“life changing” for them. They experience

anyone who shares the Catholic faith or not.

Christ and his Church in a unique and special

Each encounter is an opportunity and

way. Leaders need to recognize this

experience of growth in life in Christ. The

opportunity for themselves and for the

pilgrim leader helps to make all those

pilgrims. Sometimes, though, it may seem

encounters possible, memorable, and lasting.

challenging to some to even consider an
encounter with Jesus Christ. As Pope Francis

An Encounter with Jesus Christ

notes, utilizing the often-used language of

Pope Francis invites “all Christians,

Pope Benedict XVI, the encounter is really

everywhere, at this very moment, to a

the developing of a “friendship” with Jesus.12

renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ,

Friendship is something that people can easily

or at least an openness to letting him

understand, even if it is with God. The

encounter them.”10 What does it mean to

pilgrimage leader can assist pilgrims in

have a “personal encounter with Jesus

developing that relationship for the first time

Christ”? It means experiencing him in the

or deepen the young person’s friendship with

Sacraments, in the Scriptures, in prayer, in

Jesus Christ. In order to do that, though, the

others, and in service. This encounter is at the

pilgrim leader needs to have and continually

core of who we are as Christians. As Pope

renew their