Today, "there is such a need of a new ability to love our neighbours. As you leave this celebration", be ready "to dare love in your families, in your relations with your friends and even with those who have offended you. Be ready to leave your mark, through a truly Christian testimony, on the ambiences in which you study and work, be ready to work hard in your parish communities", in the associations and "in every sphere of society". This is the exhortation that Benedict XVI made tonight to the young of the diocese of Rome, whom he met in Saint Peter’s basilica in the run-up to the XXII World Youth Day, that will be celebrated within the dioceses on April 1st, Palm Sunday. During the Rite for Reconciliation officiated by the Pontiff, the young had the opportunity to confess individually, with the Pope and with the over 200 priests who were in the basilica. "Live engagement in true love, which always involves chaste and responsible mutual respect", said the Pope to the engaged couples. If instead "the Lord calls some of you" to "a life of special consecration he concluded , be ready to answer with a generous and uncompromising ‘yes’".
