Saint Francis "has a special attraction for you, young people". This was stated by Benedict XVI, as he met the young in front of the basilica of S. Maria degli Angeli, in Assisi, yesterday. Many young people, and not only them, commented the Pope, are tempted to lead a life like Francis’s before his conversion: "Then nowadays one can go and have fun well beyond one’s city", but one can also virtually "roam about" by "surfing" the Internet. Unfortunately there is no shortage of "young people who look for mental views, that are as vain as they are destructive, in the artificial heavens of drugs". In Francis’ lifestyle, "there was the longing for happiness that inhabits every human heart", but in that lifestyle he did not find "true joy". "The finite things highlighted the Holy Father can give glimmers of joy, but only Infinity can fill the heart". In addition, Francis was vain, and even today we speak of "taking care of our own appearance": "To have some success, we need to gain credit in other people’s eyes with something unusual, unique", and this "can express the harmless wish to be well accepted", as well as "pride", "selfishness", "bullying". In fact, explained the Pope "centring one’s life on oneself is a deadly trap: we can be ourselves only if we open ourselves up in love, by loving God and our brothers".
