Vatican City, Aug 2, 2020 / 06:30 am
Pope Francis has urged young people gathered in Medjugorje to imitate the Virgin Mary by abandoning themselves to God.
He issued the appeal in a message to an annual youth meeting in Medjugorje, read out Aug. 1 by Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, Apostolic Nuncio in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"The great example of the Church that is young in the heart, ready to follow Christ with new freshness and fidelity, always remains the Virgin Mary," the pope said in the message, sent in Croatian and released by the Holy See press office Aug. 2.
"The power of Her 'Yes' and Her 'Let it be unto me' which she said before the angel, delights us at all times. Her 'Yes' means to participate and take risks, without any guarantee except knowing that she is the bearer of the promise. Her 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord' (Luke 1:38), the most beautiful example that tells us what happens when a man, in his freedom, surrenders himself into God's hands."