Reflections: John Paul touches hearts of young

Sydney
4 August 2002

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Reflections: John Paul touches hearts of young

By Teresa Pirola

The love affair between the Pope and young people has emerged as a constant feature of this pontificate. Papal visits anywhere in the world are never concluded without a gathering with the local youth who flock to hear him, sing for him, dance and banter with him.

This must be puzzling to some of his critics. After all, how can a frail, ageing, celibate man who is supposedly out of touch with the contemporary world have such a strong young following? What is his secret?

Some would point to his background in theatre, his talent for responding to an audience. But it’s got to be more than that. Young people would quickly see through the façade of a ‘pretending’ Pope, no matter how good an actor.

Others would say it is because he takes a clear stand on important Catholic teachings. Young people want certainty and they are attracted to such clarity, they say. But, while there is truth in this, I don’t think it gets to the heart of John Paul II’s appeal to youth.

In my view, the secret of the Pope’s appeal has to do with the fact that he genuinely loves young people. Not ‘love’ in that vague, abstract, ‘we-are-all-called-to-love-people’ sense. I mean that he honestly enjoys them and revels in their goodness, their culture, their aspirations and zest for life. They have a special place in his heart – and they know it!

Look at any papal address to the young and you will find a relentless optimism which resists the suggestion that youth have rejected traditional values, that they have left the Church.

Rather, he sees them as living out a graced period of life when idealism and the search for meaning take on a particular prominence.

John Paul II does not simply tolerate this characteristic of youth (a characteristic often expressed in the form of criticism), he loves it! And he urges every parent, pastor and mentor of youth to love it, too; for the youthful search for meaning is ultimately a search for God. Only from this fundamental stance of affirmation will youth welcome guidance and correction from the older generation.

The Pope especially revels in the youthful search for love. In Crossing the Threshold of Hope (Random House, 1994) he says: “They want love to be beautiful. If they give in to weakness following models of behaviour that can rightly be considered a scandal … in the depths of their hearts they still desire a beautiful and pure love.”

Call him a hopeless romantic if you like, but this is a Pope who refuses to give up on youth or to see them as ‘a problem’. With every demanding Gospel teaching he holds out to the young there is an equally strong message about how irresistibly beautiful they are, what greatness they are capable of and how urgently the Church needs their gifts.

For every parent, teacher, catechist, priest or bishop who has ever agonised over how to reach young people, there is surely a lesson here: Never lose sight of the goodness of youth. Revel in their beauty. Marvel at their God-given gifts. Let them see it in your eyes, your smile, a ‘thumbs-up’ gesture of approval.

Let them absorb it in your quiet gaze of admiration, a firm handshake or warm hug, your seeking out their opinion. Let them overhear you praising them behind their backs, defending them against the mantra of hopelessness about youth being lost to the Church.

And, I would add, remember. Especially where families struggle with scenarios of great hurt and pain associated with the adolescent years, remember him as a curly headed youngster who used to ride on your shoulders.

Remember how you fiercely protected her in your womb. Remember, not as a pining for the past, but as a reminder in the present of the beauty and the truth of this child of God, which is hidden like precious treasure under whatever layers of confusion and pain they struggle with today.

Listen, watch and reflect on how the Pope interacts with the hundreds of thousands of young people at World Youth Day. From this ageing bishop, we just might learn something.

Teresa Pirola co-ordinates The Story Source, a writing/publishing ministry serving Catholic parishes and dioceses.