(ANS – Rome) – “I have had an extraordinary experience over recent days”. Bishop Enrico dal Covolo, sdb, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, has offered a very positive appraisal of the First International Congress of Young Catholics for Social Justice. The event, sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, has promoted an ongoing observatory for young people in dialogue with the Church.
Bishop dal Covolo's assessment follows:

“I have had an extraordinary experience over recent days: for four days – from 20-24 March – we had a fine group of young men and women here at our University, ranging from twenty to thirty years of age. They came from five continents around the world. Splendid young adults and I will always remember them with all my heart.

For the most part they were previously unknown to me, since the initiati8ve grew out of social network platforms. We called a hundred of them to Rome, at the Lateran, a hundred who had had some experience of Christian leadership in social and political activity, so they could come to know one another and discuss things amongst themselves. When they finally got here, the virtual acquaintances became real. We had to go beyond our established number a bit. We ended up with a hundred and thirty: the requests were endless!

What did we do over these days? Well, there were many notable addresses, such as one from the ninth successor of Don Bosco, the Rector Major, and one from the President of Caritas International; there was a rock concert of rare quality…, and many, many other things besides.

But it seems to me that the major thing that happened over these four days was that these young adults felt they were key players and gave of their very best. They went back home to their five continents full of enthusiasm and new ideas. What was it I appreciated most in them?

I certainly appreciated the characteristic trait of these twenty to thirty year olds. Their affectionate openness, ability to listen and dialogue, the absence of barriers. Even linguistic barriers fell due to fraternal gestures, the desire to communicate.

But what I most appreciated was there desire to continue. That is, their firm decision not to let this experience, and the treasure of their newly-established relationships over these days, be lost. Now they want to build – continuing to use their social networks – an ongoing observatory of youth, so they can continue to play a role in society and the Church.

What better could we want as Salesians?”
+ Enrico dal Covolo

Published 27/03/2013