Who transforms persons, society, and the Church herself".   
    Francis exhorted the young to play a "decisive role ... in confronting the   
   challenges of our times: certainly material challenges, but more so those which   
   concern the vision of the human person. In fact, along with economic problems,   
   difficulty in finding work and the consequent uncertainty regarding the future,   
   there is a crisis of moral values and a diminished sense of the purpose of   
   life.   
   Faced with this critical situation, some may give in to the temptation to flee,   
   to avoid problems, becoming self-absorbed, taking refuge in alcohol, drugs, or   
   ideologies which preach hatred and violence. These are realities which I know   
   well because they were unfortunately also present in Buenos Aires, where I come   
   from. Thus I encourage you not to let yourselves be overcome by the   
   difficulties, but to let the strength that comes from your being human and   
   Christian flourish without fear; you will be then be able to sow seeds of a   
   more   
   just, fraternal, welcoming and peaceful society. Together with Christ, you   
   young   
   men and women are the vitality of the Church and society. If you let Christ   
   form   
   you, if you are open to dialogue with him in prayer, by reading and meditating   
   upon the Gospel, you will become prophets and witnesses to hope.   
    "You are called to this mission: to reclaim the hope in your present   
   circumstances of being open to the wonders of living; the hope which you have   
   to   
   overcome the way things are; hope to prepare for the future marked by a more   
   dignified social and human environment; hope to live in a more fraternal world   
   which is more just and peaceful, more genuine, worthier of the measure of   
   mankind. My hope is that you will be always more aware that you are sons and   
   daughters of this earth which has given life to you. This earth asks you to   
   love   
   her and to help her rebuild, to grow spiritually and socially, also with the   
   help of your ideas and your work. To overcome every trace of pessimism, you   
   will   
   need the courage to offer yourselves joyfully and with dedication to the   
   building of a welcoming society, a society which is respectful of all   
   differences and oriented towards a civilisation of love. An great example of   
   this way of living is seen in Blessed Ivan Mert. St. John Paul II Beatified him   
   in Banja Luka. May he always be an example for you and be your protector.   
    "The Christian faith teaches us that we are called to an eternal destiny, to   
   be   
   sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, who create   
   fraternity   
   for the love of Christ. I am so pleased by the ecumenical and interreligious   
   works taken up by you, young Catholics and Orthodox, with the involvement of   
   Muslim young people as well. The John Paul II Youth Centre plays a central role   
   in this important work, with initiatives that deepen mutual understanding and   
   solidarity, allowing the various ethnic and religious groups to coexist   
   peacefully together. I encourage you to continue this work, dedicating   
   yourselves to common projects with real gestures that show your closeness and   
   support to the poorest and most in need.   
    "Dear young people, your joyful presence, your thirst for truth and high   
   ideals   
   are signs of hope! Being young does not mean being passive, but rather means   
   being tenacious in your efforts to achieve important goals, even if this comes   
   at a price. Being young does not mean closing your eyes to difficulties:   
   instead, it requires a refusal to compromise or be mediocre. It does not mean   
   escaping or fleeing, but engaging rather in solidarity with everyone,   
   especially   
   the weakest. The Church counts on you and will continue to count on you who are   
   generous and capable of great energy and noble sacrifices. For this reason,   
   together with your pastors I ask you: do not isolate yourselves, but rather be   
   ever more united among yourselves so that you may enjoy the beauty of   
   fraternity   
   and be always more fruitful in your actions.   
    "Everyone will see that you are Christians by how you, young Christians of   
   Bosnia and Herzegovina, love one another and how committed you are to service.   
   Be not afraid; do not flee from reality; be open to Christ and to your brothers   
   and sisters. You are a vital part of that great people who make up the Church:   
   a   
   universal people, a people in whom all nations and cultures can receive God's   
   blessing and can discover the path to peace. With this people, each of you is   
   called to follow Christ and to give your life to God and to your brothers and   
   sisters, in the way that the Lord will reveal to you, or perhaps is revealing   
   to   
   you now! Will you respond? Do not be afraid. We are not alone. We are always in   
   the presence of God our heavenly Father, with Jesus our Brother and Lord, in   
   the   
   Holy Spirit; and we have the Church and Mary our Mother. May She protect you   
   and   
   always give you the joy and courage to witness to the Gospel".   
    Following the meeting, the Pope greeted a number of sick young people and   
   appeared at the terrace of the Centre to bless the faithful gathered outside.   
   Shortly after 7.30 p.m. he transferred by car to Sarajevo airport where he was   
   greeted by the Croatian member of the Tripartite Presidency, Dragan Covic, and   
   at 8 p.m. he departed for Rome, where he arrived an hour and a half later.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope interviewed by journalists during return flight from Sarajevo   
    Vatican City, 6 June 2015 (VIS) - Medjugorje, a possible visit to Croatia, the   
   need to make peace and not merely to talk about it, and the use of new   
   technologies by young people were some of the issues the Pope reflected upon as   
   he conversed with the journalists who accompanied him on the return flight to   
   Rome following his apostolic trip in Bosnia and Herzegovina.   
    With regard to Medjugorje, which is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Francis   
   recalled that Benedict XVI had instituted a commission of theologians and   
   specialists, chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, which had studied the matter in   
   depth and, although the definitive final meeting has not yet taken place, it is   
   expected that the results will be communicated shortly.   
    In relation to Croatia, he mentioned that during his first trip in Europe, in   
   Albania, he had said that he would like to visit the continent starting from   
   its   
   smallest countries. "In the Balkans, there are martyred countries which have   
   suffered greatly and this is why my preference is here".   
    "It is not enough to talk about peace, peace must be made. To speak about   
   peace   
   without making it is contradictory, and those who speak about peace while   
   promoting war, for example through the sale of weapons, are hypocrites. It is   
   very simple", he said in response to a question linked to his meeting with the   
   young in which he spoke about the fomentation of a climate of war.   
    Finally, with reference to virtual communication, he affirmed that virtual   
   language is "a reality that we cannot deny: we must lead it onto a virtuous   
   path, as it is a form of progress for humanity. But when this draws us away   
   from   
   life together, from family life, as well as from sport and art, and stay   
   attached to the computer, this is a psychological malady".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Pilgrimage is a symbol of life   
    Vatican City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) - As in previous years, the Pope has sent a   
   message to participants in the 37th nocturnal pilgrimage on foot from Macerata   
   to Loreto, Italy, gathered in the Helvia Recina stadium of Macerata during the   
   night of 6 June to attend the opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell.   
   This time, due to his apostolic trip to Sarajevo, the Holy Father's message was   
   recorded in advance and broadcast on the occasion.   
    "Pilgrimage is a symbol of life", says Francis. "It makes us think of life as   
   walking, as a path. If a person does not walk, but instead stays still, this is   
   not useful; it accomplishes nothing. Think of water: when water is not in the   
   river, it does not course, but instead it remains still and stagnates. A soul   
   that does not walk in life doing good, doing many things that one must do for   
   society, to assist others, or who does not walk through life seeking God and   
   inspiration from the Holy Spirit, is a soul that finishes in mediocrity and in   
   spiritual poverty. Please: do not stand still in life!"   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Cardinals Menichelli and Macario do Nascimento Clemente to take possession of   
   their titular churches   
    Vatican City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) - The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the   
   Supreme Pontiff today communicated that the following cardinals will take   
   possession of their titles in the coming days:   
    On Friday, 12 June at 7.00 p.m., Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli, archbishop of   
   Ancona-Osimo, Italy, will take possession of the title of Sacri Cuori di Gesù e   
   Maria a Tor Fiorenza (Via Poggia Moiano, 12).   
    On Sunday, 14 June at 5 p.m., Cardinal Manuel Jose Macario do Nascimento   
   Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon, Portugal, will take possession of the title of   
   Sant'Antonio in Campo Marzio (Via dei Portoghesi, 2).   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father received in audience:   
    - Seven prelates of the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference, on their "ad   
   Limina"   
   visit:   
    - Archbishop Roberto Octavio Gonzalez Nieves, O.F.M., of San Juan de Puerto   
   Rico, with former auxiliary Bishop Hector Manuel Rivera Perez;   
    - Bishop Daniel Fernandez of Arecibo;   
    - Bishop Ruben Antonio Gonzalez Medina, C.M.F., of Caguas;   
    - Bishop Eusebio Ramos Morales of Fajardo-Humacao;   
    - Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio, S.J., of Mayaguez; and   
    - Bishop Felix Lazaro Martinez, Sch.P., of Ponce.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 8 June 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:   
    - Bishop Heiner Koch of Dresden-Meissen as metropolitan archbishop of Berlin   
   (area 31,200, population 5,680,705, Catholics 407,060, priests 421, permanent   
   deacons 35, religious 668), Germany,   
    - Fr. Benito Adan Mendez Bracamonte as military ordinary for Venezuela. The   
   bishop-elect was born in Menegrande, Venezuela in 1962 and was ordained a   
   priest   
   in 1990. He holds a bachelor's degree from the Javierian University of Bogota   
   and specialised in bioethics at the Pontificial Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum,   
   Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral roles in the diocese of Trujillo,   
   including chaplain, vice rector of the diocesan seminary, director of the   
   diocesan newspaper and parish priest, and in the military ordinary of Venezuela   
   as military chaplain, director of formation of the seminary and vicar general.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:   
   www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va   
      
   Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican   
   Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting   
   the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.   
   http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)