(ANS – Guwahati) – Taking a cue from Pope Francis, the World Councillor for Salesian Youth Ministry warned university students in Guwahati of the danger of falling into the subtle trap of the “globalization of indifference.” The Councillor General for Youth Ministry, Dr Fabio Attard is on a five-day visit from 3rd March 2015 to Assam Guwahati province.

“There is a danger we could fall into globalised indifference that favours an economic approach that benefits the rich at the cost of forgetting the poor” said Fr Attard, speaking to over 150 post graduate students of the School of Social Sciences, at Assam Don Bosco University Guwahati, Azara campus, on Wednesday 4 March.

Fr Attard encouraged the students saying: “Be people of solidarity.... once you are settled in life, don’t say, ‘I’m okay now...’ Reach out to others who did not have the privileged opportunity you have had... Do not be afraid to reach out to your poor brothers and sisters… Don Bosco was a poor man. He experienced poverty but he was able to take rich decisions for the welfare of youth.”

Fr Attard appealed to students: “We need to be people of empathy – able to enter into the life story of the other person, and yet not be emotionally engaged.”

Fr Attard further warned of a crippling malaise called ‘loneliness’ and said: “Loneliness is a symptom of a modern pathology called net dependency caused by a lack of real life connectedness, trapping young people in virtual connectedness.”

The University presented Fr Attard with a Don Bosco medal and scarf in the presence of the Chancellor, Fr. V.M. Thomas.

Speaking to the Under Graduate students, the Youth Ministry Councillor said “Education is the key to open today the door of tomorrow. The future is yours. It will flourish if you allow it to”. And he added, “Education should help us to be people of solidarity reaching out from our hearts to the poor.”

Published 04/03/2015