The III Eucharistic Marian and Youth Day (JEMJ) concluded this Sunday at the Covadonga shrine, where nearly 2,000 young people from different parts of Spain took part over three days in a gathering of prayer, formation and eucharistic adoration under the motto «Do whatever he tells you». On the occasion of the event, Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the participants through the Secretariat of State.
In the text, addressed to the Archbishop of Oviedo, Most Rev. Jesús Sanz Montes, the Pontiff recalled his visit to Spain and expressed his desire that the young people experience, through the Virgin of Covadonga, «the love that radiates from the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist», especially in moments of difficulty.
«When it seems to you that the wine of joy is lacking»
Taking the day’s motto, inspired by the wedding at Cana, as his reference, Leo XIV encouraged the participants to turn to Christ present in the Eucharist when they go through moments of discouragement or uncertainty.
The Pope expressed the hope that this gathering of communion around the Eucharist would help the young people discover that in Christ they can find the strength needed to face life’s difficulties and renew hope.
He also asked that the encounter with «the Heart of Christ and of His Mother» strengthen in them the desire to make their ideals of «a full life» a reality, lived with a concrete commitment both to the Church and to society.
Under the protection of the Virgin of Covadonga
The message concludes with an invocation of the maternal protection of the Virgin of Covadonga over all the participants and with the apostolic blessing of the Holy Father, which he extended to their families and loved ones.
The communication was sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, to the Archbishop of Oviedo through the Apostolic Nunciature in Spain.
Full message of Leo XIV
Your Excellency Most Reverend:
At the request of the Secretariat of State of His Holiness, I convey to you the following message from the Holy Father on the occasion of the III Eucharistic Marian and Youth Day, which will take place from 10 to 12 July:
«YOUR EXCELLENCY MOST REVEREND
MOST REV. JESÚS SANZ MONTES, O.F.M.
ARCHBISHOP OF OVIEDO
HIS HOLINESS CORDIALLY GREETS YOUR EXCELLENCY, AS WELL AS ALL THE PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND, IN A PARTICULAR WAY, THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GATHER IN THE HEART OF ASTURIAS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF OUR LADY OF COVADONGA TO CELEBRATE THE III EUCHARISTIC MARIAN AND YOUTH DAY, UNDER THE MOTTO «DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU».
THE HOLY FATHER, WITH VIVID RECOLLECTION OF HIS VISIT TO SPAIN, DESIRES THAT THIS DAY OF ENCOUNTER AND COMMUNION IN CHRIST MAY LEAD YOU TO EXPERIENCE, THROUGH THE SANTINA, THE LOVE THAT RADIATES FROM THE REAL PRESENCE OF JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST, ESPECIALLY IN THE MOMENTS WHEN IT SEEMS TO YOU THAT «THE WINE» OF JOY IS LACKING. MAY THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE HEART OF CHRIST AND OF HIS MOTHER STRENGTHEN IN YOU THE WILL TO MAKE YOUR IDEALS OF A FULL LIFE A REALITY, ALSO COMMITTED TO THE CHURCH AND THE SOCIETY OF YOUR BLESSED COUNTRY.
WITH THESE SENTIMENTS, POPE LEO XIV, INVOKING THE MATERNAL PROTECTION OF THE VIRGIN OF COVADONGA, IMPARTS FROM HIS HEART THE REQUESTED APOSTOLIC BLESSING, WHICH HE GLADLY EXTENDS TO YOUR FAMILIES AND OTHER LOVED ONES.
CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE»
With my heartfelt congratulations, Your Excellency the Archbishop, and the assurance of a special remembrance in prayer for the fruit of this youth gathering, I take this opportunity to send you my cordial and fraternal greeting with all affection in the Lord.
Archbishop Piero Pioppo
Apostolic Nuncio
___________________________
Most Excellent and Most Reverend
Monsignor Jesús Sanz Montes
Archbishop of Oviedo
OVIEDO