Pope Leo XIV received in audience, on December 19, the young people of Catholic Action, a few days before the celebration of Christmas. In his greeting, the Pontiff highlighted the joy of this encounter and thanked the enthusiasm with which the young people bear witness to the faith and to ecclesial life.
Addressing the participants, the Pope emphasized the proper identity of Catholic Action as an association of disciples and witnesses of the Gospel, called to walk alongside the entire Church. In reference to the Advent season and the nativity scene prepared in homes and parishes, Leo XIV recalled the motto of this year’s formation itinerary —«There is room for everyone»— affirming that, around Christ, who becomes man to save us, no one is excluded.
The Pontiff invited the young people to contemplate the mystery of the Lord’s Birth as a call to open one’s own heart, recalling that the Son of God, although he did not find room in an inn, calls to man’s heart while He offers Himself to welcome everyone with love.
We leave below the complete message of Leo XIV:
Excellency,
dear boys and girls, brothers and sisters all:
How beautiful it is to meet a few days before the Lord’s Christmas! I greet with affection all of you, the national President, the general ecclesiastical Assistant, together with the national team of the ACR, the educators and the collaborators who accompany you. I sincerely thank you for the enthusiasm you express and share with us —really very beautiful—, bearing witness to the beauty of the faith and the beauty of Catholic Action. The name of your association well expresses its identity: you are disciples of Jesus, witnesses of his Gospel and companions on the journey together with the whole Church.
During Advent, you have certainly prepared the manger in homes, in schools, in the parish. While contemplating Saint Joseph and the Virgin, the shepherds, the donkey and the ox, you see realized the title of your associative itinerary this year: «There is room for everyone». Yes, around the Lord, who becomes man to save us, there is room for everyone! He makes space for every person, for every child, adolescent, young person and elderly person. When the Son of God comes into the world he does not find room in an inn, but calls to our heart precisely while opening his own to welcome everyone with love.
Therefore, when you pray before the manger, ask to be like those angels who announce the glory of God and peace to men. This peace is the commitment of every person of good will, and especially of us Christians, who are called not only to be good, but to become better every day. To become saints, like Pier Giorgio Frassati —who was part of Catholic Action— and like Carlo Acutis: I encourage you to imitate their passion for the Gospel and their works, always animated by charity. Acting like them, your announcement of peace will be luminous, because in the company of Jesus you will be truly free and happy, ready to lend a hand to your neighbor, especially to those in difficulty.
Dearest ones, the birth of the Prince of peace (cf. Is 9,6) reveals to us the authentic meaning of this word, peace, which is not only the absence of wars, but a friendship among peoples founded on justice. We all desire this peace for nations wounded by conflicts, but let us remember that harmony and respect begin in our daily relationships, in the gestures and words we exchange at home, in the parish, with schoolmates, in sports. Therefore, before the holy night of Christmas, think of a person with whom to make peace: it will be a more valuable gift than those that can be bought in stores, because peace is a gift that is found, truly, only in the heart.
Making peace is a «Catholic action» par excellence, because it is the gesture that makes us witnesses of Jesus, the Redeemer of the world. In his name I express my best wishes to you and your loved ones, and from the heart I bless you together with all the boys and girls of Catholic Action.