Young People Need High Moral Values
1. The Holy See welcomes this First World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth and thanks the Government of Portugal for preparing the venue for this important event, in collaboration with the United Nations. This is certainly a historical circumstance and a sign of great hope at the end of this millennium.
In his Message for the World Day of Peace 1985, which was entitled "Peace and Youth Go Forward Together", Pope John Paul II wrote: "As we prepare to enter a new century and a new millennium, we must be aware that the future of peace and therefore the future of humanity have been entrusted, in a special way, to the fundamental moral choices that a new generation of men and women are being called upon to make. In a very few years, the young people of today will hold responsibility for family life and for the life of nations, for the common good of all and for peace. Young people have already begun to ask themselves all over the world: What can I do? What can we do? Where does our path take us? They want to make their contribution to the healing of a wounded and weakened society. They want to offer new solutions to old problems. They want to build a new civilization of fraternal solidarity" (n. 2).
2. This Conference of Ministers, whose main concern is represented by many millions of young men and women of the world who will be shaping the immediate future of human society, is an occasion to look back and to look forward.
This Conference should look back and learn to avoid the mistakes of the past with the young generation of today, in order not to disillusion their enthusiasm and generosity, their honesty and sense of justice. And it should look forward with renewed proposals, solid planning and honest undertakings aimed at constructing a more humane. more just, more compassionate world.
In our world of today we find signs of hope, but also challenges that are a serious threat to the future of the whole humanity. The fall of ideologies and false Utopias, the growth of structures of democracy and freedom, the extraordinary scientific and technological progress, the process of globalization open before humanity new perspectives. But at the same time throughout the world hatred, war and violence are spreading. The poverty and marginalization of entire populations are increasing and on the spiritual level the crisis of the essential values becomes deeper. This crisis does not even spare the family which is the principal cell of society. As a result, a good number of the youth of today, who are now over 18 per cent of the world's population, are living in utter poverty, with no work and without perspectives for the future. Many of them are experiencing the frustration of false freedom, the lack of meaning in life and of reference points. In the society of well-being and uncontrolled consumerism, many are the young people who are lost and in prey to solitude who seek solace in alcohol. drugs and sex. Materially and spiritually impoverished, they are wounded, depressed and broken. This situation cannot and must not continue.
3. At the threshold of this new millennium, a new start is needed, a new beginning. Among many young people today there is a growing spirit of sharing, solidarity and fellowship. They have discovered that these values bring a better and truer sense of fulfilment and accomplishment than merely living for oneself only to end up selfish and alone. Individual countries and the international community should support and sustain the "strong desire for genuine brotherhood between all peoples, without divisions, conflicts or discrimination" (Apostolic Letter of John Paul II on the occasion of the International Youth Year, 1985, n. 15) aspired to by the youth of today. But "a world of justice and peace cannot be created by words alone and it cannot be imposed by outside forces: it must be desired and must come about through the contribution of all. It is essential for every human being to have a sense of participating, of being a part of the decisions and endeavours that shape the destiny of the world" (Peace and Youth..., n. 9). It is therefore important to involve the young people. Many of them already give an extremely valid contribution in this sense, by collaborating actively both within organizations and movements, as well as in the field of voluntary service. And it is not seldom that at the base of their commitment is their faith in God.
4. Mr Chairman, "only by instilling a high moral vision can a society ensure that its young people are given the possibility to mature as free and intelligent human beings, endowed with a robust sense of responsibility to the common good, capable of working with others to create a community and a nation with a strong moral fibre" (L'Osservatore Romano English edition, 18 August 1993, p. 6). This brings about the need for an integral formation that takes into account all dimensions of the human person, including the spiritual one. A real human society requires a strong moral foundation, one that respects human life, the dignity of each person and human rights; one that honours marriage and family, and one that promotes justice and solidarity, truth and peace. Hence, those responsible for youth must realize the high ideals of young men and women and serve as authentic witnesses to and protectors of the moral order.
In fact, today among the young people in all parts of the world we can observe signs of growth of the desire for spiritual and moral values, for high ideals and for the deepest meaning of life. The gatherings of the young people with Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the World Youth Days confirm this. The latest World Youth Day held in Paris in August 1997 saw more than one million young people from all continents come together in an extraordinary spirit of fraternity and friendship.
5. The Holy See appreciates greatly and encourages the efforts made by the governments of individual countries and by the international community in favour of youth, in respecting the dignity and the vocation of the human person, for instance in the fields of education, employment and health. It is in the new generations that the future of humanity and of every nation is at stake. These commitments require, therefore, to be given maximum importance and absolute priority. At the same time the Holy See believes and stresses the fact that there is an inseparable connection between politics in favour of youth and that of the family. The family carries out an irreplaceable role in the life of the new generations and it is the principal place of human formation where the important values are transmitted for life. Therefore parents must be helped in any way possible in carrying out their task. Moreover, it is necessary to develop the conditions so that young men and women themselves can marry and create solid families. For this reason the delegation of the Holy See must reiterate its deep concern that the draft Lisbon Declaration has yet to mention any role of parents and makes no specific reference to marriage and the family. Let us not forget that the future of each nation and of humanity itself passes in fact through the family (cf. Familiaris consortio, n. 86).
Let the vision of the youth of today come true, the vision of a world united in genuine brotherhood, governed by true justice and guided by lasting peace. A world characterized by "a deep trust in man and a deep trust in the grandeur of the human vocation" (Peace and Youth..., n. 3). An unfailing hope sustained by realism and responsibility, optimism and hard work will certainly lead to that goal.
To the youth of the world, the Holy See delegation repeats the words of Pope John Paul II: "Do not be afraid! Do not be afraid of your own youth ... the future of peace lies in your hearts. To construct history, as you can and must, you must free history from the false paths it is pursuing" (ibid., n. 3). To those who are responsible for youth we say: "Do not be afraid of the powerful desires and dreams of young people! Help them to build a better world for all!".
Thank you, Mr Chairman. © L'Osservatore Romano, Editorial and Management Offices, Via del Pellegrino, 00120, Vatican City, Europe, Telephone 39/6/698.99.390.
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