Dear young people!
1. Behold I am announcing for you the next World Youth Day. While I write these words for you, I have still living memories in remembrance of that preceding one, culminated in the unforgettable meeting a Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, where I came in pilgrimage, together with many of you. That was an ecclesial event of great importance, an exceptional testimony of faith on the part of thousands of youths come from all the continents, a strong moment of evangelization. At Santiago the Church has indeed shown a face to the world: its young face, full of joy, of hope and of enthusiasm in the faith. The event of Santiago was a great gift for it, indeed, I dare to say, for all the society; and for this I will not cease thanking the Lord.
A new discover of the Church and of its mission
The theme of the preceding day, as you recall, was centered in Christ. This year, instead, I wish to propose for you to reflect on the theme of the Church. One doesn't speak of a casual correlation. Between Christ and his Church exists an extremely close and profound organic bond. Christ lives in the Church, the Church is the mystery of Christ living and working in the midst of us as St. Paul expresses: "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col 1:27); and in another place "You are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Cor 12:27).
On the occasion of this fifth World Youth Day, I thus desire to invite all of you to a new discovery of the Church and of your mission in it, as youths. The Church of Christ is a fascinating and marvelous reality. It is ancient, because it counts almost two thousand years, but, at the same time, it is perennially young, thanks to the Holy Spirit who animates it. Young is the Church, because young - that is always actual - is its message of salvation.
This is why an important dialogue exists between the Church and the young: "The Church has so much to talk about with youth, and youth have so much to share with the Church. This mutual dialogue, by taking place with great cordiality, clarity and courage... will be a source of richness and youthfulness for the Church..." I wrote in the apostolic exhortation "Christifideles Laici" (46). I wish that the fifth World Youth Day might contribute to the development of such dialogue at all the levels of the ecclesial life and in the life of everyone of you.
A commitment in the Church and in the society
2. In the Bible, among the numerous images that express the mystery of the Church, we also find the image of the vine (cf. Jer 2:21; Is 5:1-7). The Church is the vine planted by the Lord himself, a vine that glories in his particular love.
In the Gospel of John, Christ explains the foundational principle of this vine, when he says: "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15:5). It is appropriate that I have chosen these words as the theme of the next World Youth Day. Therefore I address an appeal to all of you: Young people, be living branches in the Church, be branches loaded with fruits!
To be living branches in the Church-vine means, above all to be in vital communion with Christ-the vine. The branches are not self-sufficient, but depend totally on the vine. In it the source of their life is found. Therefore, in Baptism, each one of us has been grafted in Christ and has received freely the gift of the new life. To be living branches, you must live this truth of your Baptism, deepening every day your communion with the Lord by means of listening and obedience to his Word, the participation in the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation, and the personal talk with him in prayer. Jesus says: "He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
To be living branches in the Church-vine means also to assume a commitment in the community and the society. The Vatican Council II explains it in a most clear way: "In the organism of a living body no member plays a purely passive part, sharing in the life of the body it shares at the same time in its activity. The same is true for the Body of Christ, the Church: 'the whole Body achieves full growth in dependence on the full functioning of each part' (Eph. 4:16)." ("Apostolicam Actuositatem", 2). All, according to our particular vocations, are participators in the mission of Christ and his Church. The ecclesial communion is a missionary communion.
The Church has need of many laborers. In this fifth World Youth Day Christ himself addresses to you young people a great invitation: "You also go, into my vineyard" (Mt 20,4).
The Church is an organic communion, in which each has one's own place and own work. It also has you young people. Yours is a most important place. The Church, which on the threshold of two thousand years has felt called by the Lord to render more and more intense its evangelizing effort, has particular need of you, your dynamism, your authenticity, your passionate desire to grow, the freshness of your faith. Put therefore at the service of the Church your young talents without reserve, with the generosity proper of your age. Take your place in the Church, which is not only that of recipients of pastoral care, but above all that of active protagonists of its mission (cf. "Christifideles Laici", 46). The Church is yours, indeed, you yourselves are the Church!
On its part, the Church has much to offer you young. Today we attend to a very significant phenomenon. After a period of diffidence and separation in relation to the Church, now numerous youths rediscover it as a sure and faithful guide, as an indispensable place of communion with God and with brethren, as an atmosphere of spiritual increase and commitment. It is a most eloquent sign. Many of you are not content anymore to belong to the Church in a merely formal, identifying way. They search for something more.
Associations, movements and various young ecclesial communities are a privileged place of rediscovery of the Church and the ecclesial commitment. In fact we speak today about a "new harvest" in the Church (cf. "Christifideles Laici", 29). This is an enormous wealth and a precious gift of the Holy Spirit, which is received with many thanks.
"You also go into my vineyard" (Mt 20,4). The Church-vine has need also of particular laborers, which serve it in specific way, with evangelical radicalism, consecrating their whole life. One speaks of the priestly and religious vocations and also of the vocations of the consecrated laity in the world. I am sure that many of you, meditating on the mystery of the Church, will feel in the depths of the soul the invitation of Christ: "You go also into my vineyard...". If you should hear this voice personally addressed to you, do not hesitate to respond "yes" to the Lord. Do not have fear, because to serve Christ and his Church in a total way is a wonderful vocation and magnificent gift. Christ will help you.
This is, in outline, the substantial argument of the next World Youth Day, a day of rediscovery of the Church.
Discovering the diocesan Church and the parish Church
3. The fifth World Youth Day 1990 will be celebrated on Palm Sunday, in each of your dioceses. It is one's own diocesan Church that you must discover. The Church is not an abstract and detached reality; on the contrary, it is a most concrete reality: the very diocesan Church assembled around the Bishop, successor of the apostles. And it is also the parish Church that you must discover, its life, its needs and the numerous communities that exist and operate in it. Into this Church you will bring the joy and the liveliness found in the worldwide encounter like that of Santiago and in the reunions of the movements and associations, of which you belong. You young people must be living and fruitful branches of this concrete Church, i.e. aware and responsibly participating in its mission. You receive this Church with all its spiritual richness; you receive it in the person of your Bishops, the priests, the religious and also the brethren in the faith; you receive it with the faith and love of sons.
The World Youth Day, as you see, is not only a festivity but also a serious spiritual commitment. For being able some to harvest the fruits, a journey of preparation is necessary under the guidance of your Pastors in the dioceses, the parishes, the associations, the movements and the young ecclesial communities. Try to better know the Church, its nature, its history, by now bi-millennial, and its present. Try to discover your place in the Church and your mission as youths.
In this spiritual journey my apostolic exhortation "Christifideles Laici" (1988), will be able to help you, which I have dedicated exactly to the meditation on the vocation and mission of the lay faithful in the Church and the world. I invite your pastors to help you to better grasp its message.
I entrust the process of spiritual preparation and the same celebration of the next World Youth Day 1990 to the particular intercession of the Madonna. She whom we venerate as mother of the Church, is teacher and guide in this renewed ecclesial commitment.
To all of you I send with affection my blessing.
From the Vatican, November 26 of the year 1989, solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ king of the universe.