The Catholic head Pope Francis has dedicated his released prayer intentions for August to the youth, ahead of World Youth Day.
Customary to the Holy Father to release prayer intentions for each month, he has released and dedicated August prayer intentions to World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal. In his message, the pontiff urged young people to joyfully embark on the mission to bear witness to Christ in the world.
“We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives,” reads the August Intention.
The Pontiff stressed the importance of the youth in upholding the church In a July 27 Video released by Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, giving prominence to interrogative sections, with Pope Francis responding to questions about the youth and World Youth Day. “The church needs young people so it doesn’t grow old,” Pope said.
In response to why he chose “Mary arose and went with haste’ for this World Youth Day, He said it is “because as soon as Mary knew she was going to be the mother of God, she didn’t stay there taking selfies or showing off. The first thing she did was to set out on a journey, in haste to serve, to help. You too have learned from her to set out on a journey to help others.”
He also expressed his hope for the World Youth Day Lisbon to see “a world where love is at the center, where we can sense that we are sisters and brothers.”
“We are at war, we need something else,” he continued. “A world that is not afraid of witnessing the gospel. A joyful world- because if we Christians have o joy, we are not credible, and no one will believe us.”