Expression of thanks to Pope Francis
Bishop Peter Kang U-il Messa
After Communion at concluding Mass of Asian Youth Day
Sunday August 17, 2014
I thank His Holiness Pope Francis with all your heart, on behalf of the bishops of Asia for coming to stay close to young Asians. At the World Youth Days, the Holy Father has always accompanied the young, but this is the first time that the Pope comes from so far away together with the Asian bishops to attend the World Youth Day Asia.
We can not move us and rejoice even if only for the fact that young people who have the same faith congregate, coming from different contexts and beyond the walls of different nationalities and languages, to confirm their brotherhood in Christ, and to rejoice and praise together God. But not only that. Since this time the Pope has shared with the youth for a long time, I believe that young Asians have experienced, as never before, unrepeatable moments of grace, and that they have received a seed of hope and courage for the future.
I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President of the FABC (Bishops' Conference of Asia), and many bishops of Asia, came from afar to attend the meeting with the Holy Father and to confirm the solidarity of the Asian Church. My heartfelt thanks also go to all those who for the preparation of this day have worked tirelessly without saving, in particular, to Mons. Lazarus Heungshik Yu, Bishop of the Diocese of Daejeon and the other members of the Preparatory Commission. I hope that the good Lord reward you abundantly.
I hope that all young Asians who participated in this Day, starting from grace and from the experience of these days, they can go out in search of the sources of faith in the places of their daily lives, knocking on the doors of the closed hearts, always walking together Jesus and the martyrs, and I hope that young people will strengthen the desire and passion to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.
I hope that the God of peace himself give you all his abundant blessing.