Dear young people!
I am most happy to once again be among you to announce the celebration of the IV World Youth Day. In my dialogue with you, indeed, this day occupies a privileged place, because it offers the happy occasion for me to address the young people not of a single country, but of all the world, in order to say to all and each of you that the Pope watches you with much love and much hope, than he listens to you with much attention and he wants to respond to your most profound expectations.
The World Youth Day of 1989 will have at its center Jesus Christ, as our way, truth and life (cf. Jn 14:6). It, therefore, will have to become for all you the day of a new, more mature and deeper discovery of Christ in your life.
To be young constitutes already of itself a singular richness, proper to every boy and girl (cf. Apostolic Letter of John Paul II, Mar. 31, 1985; 3). This wealth consists, among other things, in the fact that yours is an age of many important discoveries. Each and every one of you discovers in yourself, your own personality, the sense of your own existence, the truth of good and of evil. You discover also all the world that encircles you - the world of men and the world of nature. Now, among these numerous discoveries does not have to lack one, which is of fundamental importance for every human being: the personal discovery of Jesus Christ. To discover Christ always new and always better is the most wonderful adventure of our life. Therefore, on the occasion of the next World Youth Day, I desire to put to each and every one of you some very important questions and to indicate the answers to you.
- Have you already discovered Christ, that he is the way? Yes, Jesus is for us one way that leads to the Father - the only way. Whoever wants to achieve salvation, must walk in this way. You youth most frequently find yourselves at the crossroad, not knowing which road to choose, where to go; there are many mistaken roads, many easy proposals, many ambiguities. In such moments do not forget that Christ, with his Gospel, with his example, his commandments, is always and only the surest way, the way that ends in a full and enduring happiness.
- Have you already discovered Christ, that he is the truth?
The truth is the most profound demand of the human spirit. Especially the young people are starved for the truth concerning God and man, the life and the world. In my first encyclical "Redemptor Hominis" I have written: "The man who wishes to understand himself thoroughly - and not just in accordance with immediate, partial, often superficial, and even illusory standards and measures of his being - he must with his unrest, uncertainty and even his weakness and sinfulness, with his life and death, draw near to Christ." ("Redemptor Hominis, 10). Christ is the word of truth, pronounced by God himself, as a response to all the questions of the human heart. It is he who fully reveals to us the mystery of man and of the world.
- Have you already discovered Christ, that he is the life?
Everyone of you desires to live life in its fullness. You live animated by great hopes, by many beautiful plans for the future. Do not forget, however, that the true fullness of life is found only in Christ, died and risen for us. Only Christ is capable of filling up completely the space of the human heart. Only he gives the force and the joy of living, and even despite every limit or external impediment.
Yes, to discover Christ is the most beautiful adventure of your life. But it is not enough to discover him once only. Each discovery, that is made of him, becomes an invitation to always search for him more, to know him even better by means of prayer, participation in the sacraments, meditation on his Word, catechesis, listening to the teachings of the Church. This is our most important task, as Saint Paul understood very well, when he wrote: "For me, in fact, life is Christ" (Phil 1:21).
2. From the new discovery of Christ - when it is authentic - is always born, as a direct consequence, the desire to bring it to others, i.e. an apostolic commitment. This is exactly the second guideline of the next World Youth Day.
All the Church is a recipient of the mandate of Christ: "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." (Mk 16:15). All the Church, therefore, is missionary and evangelizing, living in a continuous state of mission (cf. "Ad Gentes", 2). To be Christian means to be missionary-apostles (cf. "Apostolicam Actuositatem", 2). It is not enough to discover Christ - he needs to be brought to others!
The world today is one great mission land, even in the countries of ancient Christian tradition. Everywhere today neo-paganism and the process of secularization constitutes a great challenge to the Gospel message. But, at the same time, even in our days new occasions open for the announcement of the Gospel; one notes, as an example, an increasing nostalgia for the sacred, for authentic values, for prayer. Therefore, the world today has need of many apostles - above all of young and courageous apostles. To you youth in a particular way belongs the task of testifying to the faith today and the commitment of carrying the Gospel of Christ - the way, truth and life - in the third Christian millennium, to construct a new civilization that may be a civilization of love, justice, and peace.
For each new generation new apostles are necessary. And here rises a special mission for you. You youth are the first apostles and evangelizers of the young world, tormented today by many challenges and threats (cf. "Apostolicam Actuositatem", 12). Principally you can be it, and nobody can replace you in the environments of study, work and recreation. Many are your contemporaries that do not know Christ, or that do not know him enough. Therefore, you cannot remain silent and indifferent! You must have the courage to speak of Christ, to declare your faith by means of your manner of life inspired by the Gospel. Saint Paul writes: "Woe to me, if I do not preach the Gospel!" (1 Cor 9:16). Indeed, the evangelical harvest is great and many laborers are desired. Christ trusts himself to you and counts on your collaboration. On the occasion of the next World Youth Day, I invite you therefore to renew your apostolic commitment. Christ has need of you! Respond to his call with the courage and the energy proper of your age.
3. The famous Sanctuary to Santiago di Compostela, in Spain, will constitute an extremely important point of reference for the celebration of this day in 1989. As I have already announced to you, after the ordinary celebration of your feast - Palm Sunday - in the particular Churches, I give you a proper appointment in that Sanctuary, where I will go, a pilgrim like you, the 19th and 20th of August 1989; I am sure that you will not fail at my invitation, just as you did not fail at the unforgettable encounter of Buenos Aires, in 1987.
The meeting at Santiago will see moreover the participation of all the universal Church, it will be a moment of spiritual communion also with those among you that cannot be physically present. To Santiago the young people will represent, in fact, the particular Churches of all the world, and the "Way of Santiago" and the evangelizing thrust will be patrimony of you all.
Santiago di Compostela is a place that has carried out a role of great importance in the history of Christianity and, therefore, already of itself transmits to all a most eloquent spiritual message. This place has been for centuries a "point of attraction and convergence for Europe and all the Christianity... The whole of Europe has found itself around the 'memory' of James in those same centuries, in which it constructed itself as a homogenous and spiritually united continent" (cf. Allocution of John Paul II, Nov. 9, 1982).
Near the tomb of Saint James we want to learn that our faith is historically founded, and therefore is not something vague and passing: in the world today, marked by a grave relativism and a strong confusion of values, we must always remember that, as Christians, we are really built on the stable foundations of the apostles, having Christ himself as the cornerstone (cf. Eph 2:20).
Near the tomb of the apostle, we want also to receive again the mandate of Christ: "You will be witnesses of me... to the farthest ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Saint James, who was the first to seal his testimony of faith with his own blood, is for all of us an example and an excellent teacher.
Santiago di Compostela is not only a Sanctuary, but it is also a journey, i.e. a dense network of pilgrimage routes. The "Way of Santiago" was for centuries a way of conversion and extraordinary testimony to the faith. Along this way the visible monuments of the faith of the pilgrims rose: the churches and numerous hospices.
The pilgrimage has a much deeper spiritual meaning and can constitute already of itself an important catechesis. In fact - as the 2nd Vatican Council has recalled for us - the Church is a People of God in journey, "in search of the future and abiding city" (cf. "Lumen Gentium", 9). Today in the world the practice of the pilgrimage knows a period of rebirth, especially among the youth. You are among the more sensible to revive, today, the pilgrimage like "way" of interior renewal, of deepening of the faith, of strengthening of the sense of communion and solidarity with your brethren, and as a means for discovering personal vocations. I am sure that thanks to your youthful enthusiasm the "Way of Santiago" will receive this year a new and rich development.
4. The program of this day is very engaging. In order to harvest the fruits, a specific spiritual preparation is therefore necessary under the guidance of your pastors in the dioceses, in the parishes, associations and movements, whether for Palm Sunday, or for the pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostela in August 1989. At the beginning of this preparatory phase, I address all and each of you with the words of the apostle Paul: "walk in love...; walk as children of light" (Eph 5:2,8). Enter in this time of preparation with such dispositions of spirit!
Walk, therefore, I say to all of you, young pilgrims of the "Way of Santiago". Search to find anew, during the days of the pilgrimage, the spirit of the ancient pilgrims, brave witnesses of the Christian faith. In this journey learn to discover Jesus who is our way, truth and life.
I wish, finally, to address a special word of encouragement to the young people of Spain. This time you will be offering hospitality to your brothers and sisters, coming from all the world. I wish for you that this encounter at Santiago may leave deep traces in your life and may be for you all a powerful leaven of spiritual rebirth.
Dear young men, dear young women, I conclude this message with am embrace of peace that I desire to send to you all, wherever you find yourselves. I entrust the way of preparation and celebration of the 1989 World Youth Day to the special protection of Mary, Queen of the apostles, and Saint James, venerated for centuries near the ancient Sanctuary of Compostela. My apostolic blessing accompanies you, in sign of encouragement and good-wishes, along all the route.
From the Vatican, the 27th of November of the year 1988.