World Youth Day USA Guides Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 25

Lord” by their lives.28 As Pope Francis

Just as the leader and the pilgrims have

confidently told millions of pilgrims as they

encountered Jesus Christ, so they have a

prepared to leave Rio de Janeiro in 2013, Jesus

mission to assist others in having such an

“not only sends us, he accompanies us, he is

encounter or deepening their relationship with

always beside us in our mission of love.”29

him. St. John Paul II, the father and patron
saint of World Youth Day, explained this

The pilgrims have followed the leader on

dynamic very well when he said, “our personal

pilgrimage and, hopefully, encountered Jesus

encounter with Christ bathes life in new light,

Christ who accompanied them on the journey.

sets us on the right path, and sends us out to

This is the life of the disciple, the one who is

be his witnesses.”31

sent. When Jesus sent out the seventy-two, he
had them take little on the journey, beyond

The response to the personal encounter as a

trust in him (cf. Lk 10:1-12). They returned to

witness sent by Jesus Christ into the world is

him joyfully telling stories of all that was done

called living as a “missionary disciple.”

in his name (cf Lk 10:17-20).
This term captures a reality which is central to
Jesus Christ continues to do the same today.

the work of the New Evangelization as the

Both the leader and the pilgrims ar