"True revolutions, decisive changes in the world" occur "only by the hand of God and of the Saints" who "are the true reformers". Therefore "it is not through ideologies that we save the world but by beseeching our living God who is our Creator, the guarantor of our freedom, the guarantor of what is truly good and true". Last night, in addressing the youth who had gathered in the Marienfeld area for the Vigil of the 20th World Youth Day, Benedict XVI, had no hesitation in pointing to an unconventional path. And the youth, as they had many a time announced in advance, listened to him with special attention.
They followed his reflections step by step, intent on capturing the message they had longed for in the folds of the words of the Pope, with John Paul II in their hearts. They soon realized that their communication had never been interrupted. They had already perceived the presence of something great in the days of the suffering and death of Pope Wojtyla, but last night that had the certainty that there was a true handing over and that there were eyes looking on from the window of Heaven to the window on Earth. They discovered that this communication, with different faces, voices and gestures, is part of a plan that goes beyond time and space. Many realized, and many others received confirmation, that this is the communication of the Church. Led by Benedict XVI, they understood that "the guarantor of our freedom, the guarantor of what is truly good and true" has built and loves the Church and has wanted it, albeit poor and a sinner, to be an instrument to save the world. An enterprise that continues, a difficult enterprise and, for this reason, an enterprise that is suited to youth.
