Bern, Switzerland, Jun 6, 2004 / 22:00 pm
In a festive meeting with 10,000 Swiss youth gathered at the Ice Palace in Bern's Expo Center, Pope John Paul challenged them to "rise up," react against the temptations of contemporary society and accept God's call to follow Christ closely.
The Holy Father noted that the words "leve-toi" (rise up) referred to words in the Gospel of Luke spoken by Jesus in Nain to a young man, an only child, who had died and whose bier was being accompanied by his mother. He said he was in Switzerland to say these same words to young people, to ask them to arise and follow Christ as His disciples.
With forceful words, the Pope told the young people they could be part of "that sad procession in Nain" if they "give in to desperation, are seduced by the mirages of consumer societies and are distracted from true joy by enjoying passing pleasures, if you become wrapped up in indifference and superficiality, if, in the face of evil and suffering you doubt God's presence and His love for every person, if you seek in a disordered affection the answer to your inner thirst for true and pure love."
"It is in such moments that Christ comes close to you ... and says 'arise'. 'Welcome my invitation to get back up!'" said the Holy Father.