【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2013 年 07 月 26 日巴西里約熱內盧訊】 ─ 對整個世界青年日來說，七月二十五日是繁忙的一天，亦是舉行重頭戲的日子。主角中的主角，教宗方濟各及青年人齊集現場。

教宗在這幾天的演辭都是那麼簡潔而豐富，並語重深長，尤其更是切合實際。演辭絲毫沒有再需要演繹的空間，你們只能接受或拒絕。

教宗方濟各對巴西貧窮地區Varginha社區、對在Copacabana海灘歡迎典禮中聚集的青年，以及在里約熱內盧主教座堂對阿根廷青年（其實不限於阿根廷青年）的講話，尤其重要。教宗方濟各警告，要提防「在理論及實行上，忽視生命中的兩極，長者及青年，他們是每個民族的前途」。

「我要說一件事：我對世界青年日有什麼期望呢？我期待在里約熱內盧發生一些難題。然而我要求你們在教區製造難題……我希望難題會從這裡走出去。我希望敎會走到街上。我願我們成為引領者，對抗一切的世俗的、拒絕改變的思想，反抗享樂主義、神職主義及自我封閉。堂區、學校及其他機構必須伸出手來。否則，這就會變成非政府組織，而教會亦會成為一個非政府組織。假使你們中有些人製造難題，我期望一眾主教及堂區主任司鐸原諒我，然而這是我對你們的忠告。感謝你們所能作出的一切。」

教宗方濟各在里約熱內盧所展示的姿態，也同樣強而有力，這些確實並非出自深思熟慮的策略。例如他中途停留在Varginha，探訪貧民區；當他到達Copacabana時，交換他的小圓帽，並接受一名朝聖者奉上的飲料；他降福親撫眾多嬰孩；而最重要的姿勢的就是，在不同的慶典及聚會中，留心細察身旁的人們。他亦多次非正式的提及真福教宗若望保祿二世以及上任教宗本篤十六世，並為一名前往參與世界青年日途中，在法屬圭亞那遇上嚴重車禍喪生的Sophie Morinière祈禱。

教宗方濟各就這樣展示他無比的關懷。

接著，在場青年以不同方式分享信仰。里約熱內盧總主教向教宗方濟各介紹這些青年時，表示他們作出很大犧牲，排除萬難才能抵達里約熱內盧。

這是千真萬確的！縱使大雨造成很大阻礙──使有關官員需把守夜祈福及感恩祭的場地，從Guaratiba遷移到Copacabana──青年朝聖者仍能以喜樂見證信仰。

昨天，青年大清早便列隊前往Copacabana，參與歡迎教宗方濟各的典禮。雖然大雨引致地面泥濘一片，他們仍在海灘紮營，耐心等待教宗到臨。

總會長見證著這事。他偕同一些總部議員，嘗試走到他們與教宗會面的地方。過了數分鐘，他停步並與營地的青年談話，他也與一些為他開路前往主席台的人，以及一些來自墨西哥的團體傾談。他並多次被慈幼青年運動的青年認出，因而停步接受致候。

After WYD

(ANS - Brazil –Rio de Janeiro, 26 July 2013) – For the World Youth Day, yesterday, 25 July, was a busy day and one of powerful emotions. The main actors were, of course, Pope Francis and the young people.

The addresses delivered by the Pope during these days are simple, intense, profound and, above all, practical. There is no room for interpretation. You either accept or reject what he has to say.

Particularly significant are the words Pope Francis addressed to the community of Varginha, a poor area of Rio de Janeiro, and what he said to the young people gathered for the welcome ceremony on the beach at Copacabana, as well as his talk to the young people of Argentine in the Cathedral in Rio de Janeiro, which was obviously not intended only for Argentina. Pope Francis warns against “a philosophy and practice which neglect the two poles of life which are the promise of every people” – the elderly and the young.  

“I would like to say one thing: what do I expect from World Youth Day? I expect trouble, here in Rio.  But I am asking you to create trouble in your dioceses … I want it to go out from here. I want the Church to go out on to the streets. I want us to be on our guard against all kinds of worldliness, against unwillingness to change, against comfort-seeking, against clericalism, against being closed in on ourselves. Parishes, colleges and other institutions must reach out. If not, they become NGOs and the Church becomes an NGO. I hope the bishops and parish priests will forgive me if some of you cause trouble, but that is my advice to you. And I thank you for all you are able to do.”

Equally powerful are the gestures of Pope Francis here in Rio de Janeiro, and they are certainly not the result of well thought-out strategies. Take for example the unplanned stop and the visit to a family in the slum of Varginha, swapping his skull-cap and accepting a drink from a pilgrim as he arrived at Copacabana, blessing and caressing many babies and, above all, paying attention to the people who were close to him during the various ceremonies and meetings. There was also his informal reference to Blessed John Paul II and to his predecessor Benedict XVI, and his prayer for Sophie Morinière who had died in a tragic accident in French Guyana while on her way to Rio de Janeiro.

This is what has created so much sympathy around Pope Francis.

The young people, then, are sharing their faith in different ways. In introducing them to Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro said of them that they had made sacrifices and overcome difficulties in order to get to Rio de Janeiro.

And it’s true! Despite the rain which caused many problems – so much so that the authorities had to move the venue for the Vigil and Mass from Guaratiba to Copacabana – the young pilgrims witnessed to their faith with joy.

Yesterday, from early morning, queues of young people headed towards Copacabana to take part in the welcome ceremony for Pope Francis. Despite the rain and the wet sand, they camped on the beach, waiting patiently for the arrival of the Pope.

The Rector Major was witness to this. Together with some members of the Council, he tried to get to the place where they were to meet the Pope. After a few minutes he stopped to talk to the young people already camped there, to some who were making their way towards the platform, or to some groups from Mexico. On other occasions, he was stopped by young people from the SYM who recognised him.