Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment

SYNOD OF BISHOPSXV ORDINARY

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA

PRE-SYNODAL MEETINGROME, 19-24 MARZO 2018

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LETTER of his Holiness Pope Francis

to Young People1

13 January 2017

My Dear Young People,

I am pleased to announce that in October 2018 a Synod of Bishops will take place to treat the topic: “Young People, the Faith and Vocation-al Discernment.” I wanted you to be the centre of attention, because you are in my heart. Today, the Preparatory Document is being presented, a document which I am also entrusting to you as your “compass” on this synodal journey.

I am reminded of the words which God spoke to Abraham: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I

1 On the occasion of the Presentation of the Prepa-ratory Document of the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

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will show you.” (Gen 12.1). These words are now also addressed to you. They are words of a Father who invites you to “go”, to set out towards a fu-ture which is unknown but one which will sure-ly lead to fulfilment, a future towards which He Himself accompanies you. I invite you to hear God’s voice resounding in your heart through the breath of the Holy Spirit.

When God said to Abram, “Go!”, what did he want to say? He certainly did not say to dis-tance himself from his family or withdraw from the world. Abram received a compelling invita-tion, a challenge, to leave everything and go to a new land. What is this “new land” for us today, if not a more just and friendly society which you, young people, deeply desire and wish to build to the very ends of the earth?

But unfortunately, today, “Go!” also has a dif-ferent meaning, namely, that of abuse of power, injustice and war. Many among you are subjected to the real threat of violence and forced to flee their native land. Their cry goes up to God, like that of Israel, when the people were enslaved and oppressed by Pharaoh (cf. Ex 2:23).

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I would also remind you of the words that Jesus once said to the disciples who asked him: “Teacher [...] where are you staying?” He replied, “Come and see” (Jn 1:38). Jesus looks at you and invites you to go with him. Dear young people, have you noticed this look towards you? Have you heard this voice? Have you felt this urge to undertake this journey? I am sure that, despite the noise and confusion seemingly prevalent in the world, this call continues to resonate in the depths of your heart so as to open it to joy in its fullness. This will be possible to the extent that, even with professional guides, you will learn how to undertake a journey of discernment to discov-er God’s plan in your life. Even when the journey is uncertain and you fall, God, rich in mercy, will extend his hand to pick you up.

In Krakow, at the opening of the last World Youth Day, I asked you several times: “Can we change things?” And you shouted: “Yes!”. That shout came from your young and youthful hearts, which do not tolerate injustice and cannot bow to a “throw-away culture” nor give in to the globali-zation of indifference. Listen to the cry arising

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from your inner selves! Even when you feel, like the prophet Jeremiah, the inexperience of youth, God encourages you to go where He sends you: “Do not be afraid, [...], because I am with you to deliver you” (Jer 1:8).

A better world can be built also as a result of your efforts, your desire to change and your generosity. Do not be afraid to listen to the Spirit who proposes bold choices; do not delay when your conscience asks you to take risks in follow-ing the Master. The Church also wishes to listen to your voice, your sensitivities and your faith; even your doubts and your criticism. Make your voice heard, let it resonate in communities and let it be heard by your shepherds of souls. St. Bene-dict urged the abbots to consult, even the young, before any important decision, because “the Lord often reveals to the younger what is best.” (Rule of St. Benedict, III, 3).

Such is the case, even in the journey of this Synod. My brother bishops and I want even more to “work with you for your joy” (2 Cor 1:24). I entrust you to Mary of Nazareth, a young per-son like yourselves, whom God beheld lovingly,

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so she might take your hand and guide you to the joy of fully and generously responding to God’s call with the words: “Here I am” (cf. Lk 1:38).

With paternal affection,

FRANCIS

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PRESENTATION

The purpose of the Pre-Synodal Meeting, to take place in Rome from 19 to 24 March 2018, is to provide the opportunity for young people to produce a document, which expresses their view on the state of things, their ideas, their feelings and their recommendations, to be presented to the Synodal Fathers, who will meet in October 2018 to treat the topic: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. Participating in this Meet-ing will be about 300 young people, representing young people from the 5 continents.

At the same time, we want, as much as possible, to involve young people the world over. By means of the social network, those who do not physically take part in the Pre-Synodal Meeting, can interact with those who will meet in Rome. Everyone is invited to join together in the discussion and to make their voices heard, so that the fruits of the Pre-Synodal Meeting will best express the ideas of young people throughout the world.

This documental support includes:1) The Work Outline of the Pre-Synodal Meeting;2) The Letter of Invitation to participate in this

event through the social network; and3) 15 #hashtags for comments.

In this way:1. We want to listen to young people, provid-

ing channels for communication and gath-ering information which are able to prompt their participation.

2. We seek to adopt the ways and means which characterize the communication of young people today, so that dialogue with them is as clear and effective as possible.

3. We hope to remove, as much as possible, any difficulty in communication and to adopt a more immediately understandable language, so as to make communication with young people easier. Young people will be able to express themselves in a language that is familiar to them and the Church can transmit its message in a way that can be better understood.

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4. We intend to find the right means to address the inevitable diversity of cultures. We know well that today being born and raised in Af-rica is different from being born and raised in North America. Likewise, being born and raised in Europe is different from being born and raised in Australia. Therefore, effort has been made to identify a method that does not simply require translating languages, but one which can also fully comprehend the dif-ferent cultures and traditions in the world.

The Work OutlineThe Work Outline will be the reference point

for the work of the Pre-Synodal Meeting and is to be read in light of the Preparatory Document and the Letter of the Pope to Young People, which are seamlessly associated to it.

Much of the reasoning underlying the idea of 15 #hashtags for comments can be found in The Work Outline. “The Church wants to listen to the voice, sensi-tivities, the faith and also some of the doubts and criticism of the young – we must listen to young people.” (Pope Francis, Catechesis, 4 October 2017). We seek in this way to best realize the objectives as expressed in

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point 7 of The Work Outline: “The publication of this Work Outline, containing questions to guide the Pre-Syn-odal Meeting, is intended to provide a means for every young person and youth groups throughout the world to become involved, so that they can prepare themselves to make their contribution online during the Pre-Synodal Meeting”.

The Letter of Invitation

Some young people are inviting other young people to participate in the event. The invitation is open to everyone: to those who, in varying de-grees, are actively involved in the Catholic Church, to those in other Christian denominations or oth-er religions and to those who do not believe in God. The Synod is concerned with all young peo-ple. Responding to the invitation is to take part in the journey which the Church is making.

This Letter has four chapters and 15 #hash-tags (key words that will be used in gathering and organizing participation on the social network set up by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops) which will serve as a guide for young people in preparing their comments for submis-sion during the Pre-Synodal Meeting.

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15 #hashtags for Comments

Indications for personal or group reflection in prepa-ration for participating in the Pre-Synodal Meeting of Young People through the internet.

Comments can be made at the following #hashtags: #WhoAmI#differences#future#DigitalWorld#InteriorLife#Jesus#IBelieve#called

#choices#guide#Church#ActivelyInvolved#places#proposals

#WaysAndMeans

Each #hashtag will be connected to a brief explanatory text as an assistance in commenting. These texts will be found at www.synod2018.va.

The texts are meant to encourage young peo-ple to examine the subject, discuss it and make comments. Likewise, young people are asked to take some time to look into things and think things through.

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The texts can be used by individuals or groups (with or without a formator being present).

During the Pre-Synodal Meeting, young peo-ple can also participate in the work by sending comments to one of the linguistic groups. It is necessary to register for a group in advance. To register, visit www.synod2018.va or facebook.com/synod2018.

Finally, work during the Pre-Synodal Meeting is based on The Work Outline. The Letter of Invita-tion provides a “link” to young people around the world, inviting them to participate. The 15 #hashtags for comments are the means for interacting with those who are in Rome. In this way, we want to make young people throughout the world feel in-volved in this journey of sharing and listening, which is very important to the Church today.

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THE WORK OUTLINE

Introduction

THE REASON FOR AND THE INTENTION OF THE PRE-SYNODAL MEETING

1. The journey of the Synod of Bishops is a long, articulated process, made up of very impor-tant stages which, at each moment, involve vari-ous parts of the Church.

After the choice of topic was announced on 6 October 2016, the first stage began with the pub-lication of the Preparatory Document on 13 January 2017, which, in addition to an important series of questions intended primarily for the episcopal conferences, the synods of the Eastern Catholic Churches and other ecclesial organizations, con-tained something new for the first time, name-ly, the expressed desire to listen to young people “through a website with questions on their ex-pectations and their lives” (Preparatory Document,

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Introduction). From 5 to 9 April 2017, an Inter-national Meeting was held with leaders engaged in youth ministry worldwide, during which the synod journey was explained. From 11 to 15 September 2017, an International Seminar on the Present Situa-tion of Young People was held with the participation of many experts and various young people.

The next step provides for the publication of the Work Document, which will collect the respons-es of the bishops and ecclesial organizations, a summary of the answers to the online question-naire and the results of the Pre-Synodal Meeting. The General Assembly of the Synod of Bish-ops will take place from 3 to 28 October 2018, leading to the publication of a papal document, which will present the fruits of the entire journey.

2. From the very beginning, the Holy Father had a continual, intense desire directly to involve young people in this journey, for the Synod is not only for young people, but also, and above all, of young people.

This desire for involvement was also strong-ly emphasized in his letter sent to young people on 13 January 2017, as well as during the Prayer

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Vigil, held on 8 April, in preparation for the XXXII World Youth Day. On this occasion, the Pope stated that “in the Synod, the entire Church wants to listen to young people: to what they are thinking, to what they want, to what they criticize and to what they are sorry for.”

3. The desire sincerely and attentively to lis-ten to young people finds its realization in the Pre-Synodal Meeting. During the Catechesis on 4 October 2017, Pope Francis said: “I would like to announce that the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops has organized a Pre-Synodal Meeting to take place from 19 to 24 March 2018, to which all young people from around the world are invited: young Catholics, young Christians from other denominations or other religions and young non-believers. This initiative is part of preparations to pave the way for the next Ordi-nary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled for October 2018, to treat the topic: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. With this journey, the Church wants to listen to the voice, sensitivities, the faith and also some of the doubts and criticism of the young; we must

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listen to young people. This is why the conclu-sions of the March meeting will be communicat-ed to the synod fathers.”

4. The reason for and the intention of the Pre-Syn-odal Meeting are clearly indicated in the Meeting’s gathering in Rome of a significant representation of young people from all over the world.

The plan to be followed in its work, in keep-ing with the Preparatory Document, is divided into three parts:

• The first is devoted to examining thorough-ly the actual situation of young people today;

• The second is related to young people’s under-standing of the key elements of the next Synod; and

• The third is aimed at engaging young people in the Church’s formative and pastoral activity.

It is important to remember that the Prepara-tory Document remains the indispensable reference point for the various topics proposed in The Work Outline. Nor should it be forgotten that each par-ticipant, in a certain way and in various forms, will be representing a larger group (an episcopal confer-ence, a synod of the Eastern Catholic Church,

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a Christian denomination, a religion, an associ-ation, a group, a movement, different situations in the life, many committed and working young people), and whose duty and right is to be an honest and loyal spokesperson for these groups.

5. The methodology for the work proposed at the Pre-Synodal Meeting is very simple.

According to a prearranged schedule, time will be set apart for an in-depth discussion of suggested topics in small language groups. At other times, the participants at the meeting will gather in plenary session to share the work being done, with the possibility for people to speak, so as to arrive at a collective summary, which will be the specific contribution of the Pre-Synodal Meeting to the Ordinary General Assembly.

The Work Outline is purposely brief and open to discussion so as to give maximum freedom of expression in both the small language groups and plenary sessions. The questions proposed are in-tended to generate and guide the dialogue.

6. Given the worldwide importance of this event, not to mention its aim to provide ways for

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young people to interact, the Pre-Synodal Meet-ing will be open to the “remote” participation of young people through computers.

At the synod’s official website www.syn-od2018.va, a great number of young people can be guaranteed a hearing along with the actual participants in the Pre-Synodal Meeting in Rome, which will make the Church’s ability to listen to young people today more comprehensive and significant.

7. The publication of this Work Outline, con-taining questions to guide the Pre-Synodal Meet-ing, is intended to provide a means for every young person and youth groups throughout the world to become involved, so that they can pre-pare themselves to make their contribution online during the Pre-Synodal Meeting.

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Part One THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY

The first step in our journey is to take into consider-ation the historic circumstances and concrete situations in which young people today determine their identity.

The situation today in society, economics, politics, culture, religion and the Church certainly offers new opportunities, but, at the same time, also presents some unprecedented challenges. Globalization does not always lead to unity and equality, but, instead, oftentimes times wors-ens existing differences between continents and nations, thus creating for young people diverse conditions and possibilities in their growth and in their forming a unique identity and a sense of belonging in society.

Family relationships and interaction with peers, academics and university life, the world of

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work, financial matters, dealing with emotions and sexuality, the utilization of new technolo-gies, the use of free time, self-expression through music and sports, confronting uneasy situations, poverty and marginalization, all these create a new way of understanding the world and plan-ning life by creating an unprecedented sense of how the young look at life.

Without a doubt, our times are characterized by fragmentary living, confusion regarding values and a difficulty in belonging to a variety of races and cultures. Some ways of looking at the present situation can be likened to those in human life in the Bible, namely, the fragile nature of life can be-come the proper basis for seeking what is trust-worthy; insecurity can provide a possible opening to a wider sense of existence; individualism can provide the reason to truly seek a real fraternity; mobility, arising from a desire for a homeland, is capable of fulfilling the intense longings of the human heart.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

(1) The formation of personality. In these times, what relationships, emotional experiences, specific events and places primarily determine the identity of younger generations?

(2) Relationships with different people. What challenges and opportunities come to light in our increasingly interconnected, multicultural and interreligious world, where, unfortunately, differ-ences and divisions are intensifying?

(3) Young people and the future. What dreams do young people have for themselves and for the society in which they live? How are they striving to realize these aspirations?

(4) The relationship with technology. How does technology today, with its new opportunities and unprecedented dangers, contribute to deter-mining young people’s identity and way of life?

(5) The search for meaning in life. What rela-tion exists between the daily lives of young peo-ple and their experience of the sacred, spiritual realities and religion?

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Part Two FAITH AND VOCATION, DISCERNMENT AND ACCOMPANIMENT

In the synodal journey, determining the specific ways in which young people understand the key elements of the faith, what the Church wants for them, and discerning the Lord’s plan in their life is decisive in creating a coherence between young people and the Gospel,

The Church’s treasure is precisely the faith which is received through grace. It is a gift which enables a person to participate in the life of God, to experience his love and to actually live an en-counter with the Lord Jesus, who desires a full, abundant and eternal life for everyone, without ex-ception. By means of the Church’s faith, a person gains entrance into the dynamic of salvation and remains grounded in the truth, living a happy and just relationship with God, which, in turn, leads to generous service to all.

Speaking of vocation first requires understand-ing the call to both love and fulfilment in life, which is concretely and uniquely expressed in each

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person, according to a specific choice of life. In Christian thinking, this applies to not only every baptized person, but also the non-baptized, since everyone is loved and created by God for himself. For this reason, shedding light on one’s vocation is a task for everyone, especially young people.

Vocational discernment is an intense work, done interiorly, where a person seeks to grasp the mean-ing of one’s existence, which is not merely a gift to welcome with joy, but also a task to undertake with commitment and responsibility. Vocational dis-cernment is a journey of attentive listening, wise interpretation and a free and courageous choice of a specific form of life in the Church (lay, conse-crated, priestly) and in the world.

Since discerning one’s vocation is neither sim-ple nor automatic, the accompaniment of young people by persons who know how to walk this path, with humility and wisdom, is very important. Equally important is for young people, even among their peers, to find authentic people to accompany them on this path, people who act with freedom of heart, disinterestedness and full awareness of being collaborators of the God of love and joy.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

(6) Young people and Jesus. How is the per-son of Jesus, as recounted in the Scriptures, perceived by the young people of the third mil-lennium?

(7) Faith and the Church. How do young peo-ple today live their personal faith in Jesus? What is their relationship with the ecclesial commu-nity?

(8) The vocational sense of life. Is there a clear understanding in younger generations of their having a personal call and specific mission in the world?

(9) Vocational discernment. What tools can be useful and what moments are best suited to helping a young person make life’s basic choices in the Church and the world?

(10) Young people and accompaniment. What should be the characteristics of a trust-worthy person, who is suited to accompanying young people today on life’s journey?

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Part Three THE CHURCH’S FORMATIVE AND PASTORAL ACTIVITY

An important task in the synod process is identifying the most effective ways to announce the good news to young people today. Young people, therefore, need to make con-crete suggestions.

Decisive action needs to be taken in recap-turing and reinforcing the enthusiasm and trust, long characterizing the Lord’s disciples, so that, in these times, people can be apostles, engaged in the Church’s formative and pastoral activity towards young people. The Church, therefore, primarily wants every young person to become a “missionary disciple.”

In the first place, the Church needs to deter-mine the appropriate manner to encounter young people today in their various experiences in life, so as to create, together with them, confidence and familiarity in the work of building, together with them, a more humane and just world and a

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Church which is more and more a beacon of the Kingdom of God to come.

Secondly, concrete suggestions are essential in finding ways for young people to be leading fig-ures in this work and for them to be more involved in the renewal to be achieved in society and the Church. Young people are called to enrich the Church’s vision of the world and history with a renewed sensitivity to the signs of the times, which are God’s appeal to the Church, to young people themselves and to all men and women of good will.

Finally, equally important is determining what areas of commitment are a priority in achieving a “vocational pastoral programme for young peo-ple” appropriate for these times.

The Church encounters young people in very many places, but the best ones need to be de-termined so as to accompany them. The Church proposes many initiatives, but, here too, their quality and consistency needs to be assessed. The Church has in place many instruments and forms of involvement, at various levels, but not all are suita-ble to attract the interest of young people.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

(11) The Church’s manner of acting. What should be the characteristics of a Church which is enlightening, attractive and credible to younger generations, one which has the ability to engen-der respect and attractiveness in them?

(12) Young leading figures. What are the pre-ferred areas, in both society and the Church, where young people, with their talents and en-thusiasm, can really be involved in the mission of the Church today?

(13) Preferred places. What are the more im-portant places, among others, for encountering young people where they are, and accompanying them and offering them the light of faith?

(14) The initiatives to be reinforced. What specific initiatives appear to be more appropriate to attract the interest of young people, so that they can fully grow as persons?

(15) Instruments to be used. Which approach-es appear to be the most accessible and what are the most effective ways of generating among young people a sense of vocation, attentiveness to one’s neighbour and a grace-filled life?

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LETTER OF INVITATION For you...

To all young women To all young men in the world,

who belong to the Catholic Church, to other Christian denominations, to other religions, to those who believe in God and to those who do not believe...

Hello!

We are Stella, Leticia, Giulia, Nelson, Paul and Matthias.

The Synod of Bishops, 2018 “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment”

3 - 28 October 2018will be the “Synod of Young People”

Pope Francis has called a Synod of Bishops to talk about us, the young people of the world. Bishops from every continent will come to Rome

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in October of this year and will discuss how to accompany us in life, in the faith and in our choices. The Church wants to be near us in life’s concrete moments, in our difficulties and in our aspirations.

Pope Francis said that “all young people have something to say to the Church, to the bishops and to the Pope!” Consequently, he wanted young people to meet before the synod, from 19 to 24 March 2018. We will gather with three hundred delegates from around the world and be able to speak.

You can understand our self-consciousness at standing in that imposing hall to talk to Pope Francis, to the Church and to the world, certain that our words will not be lost, but will become our contribution to the October Synod.

At www.synod2018.va, you will find all the links necessary

to make comments on the social network

We, therefore, ask your help. How can we, the young people of the world, be heard? How

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can young people communicate the hopes, fears, grievances and dreams of millions of our peers? Every aspect of life, in every corner of the planet, can be discussed in that hall. Help us achieve this task through this hashtag: #TellItToFrancis.

We will use 15hashtags as an assistance in expressing

what we want to say

Part One CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN TODAY’S WORLD

We need to know each other as a generation, to find out where we are, to understand what matters and what to avoid, to ascertain differenc-es, accept them and go beyond, to look forward and imagine what awaits us and to find a balance between excessive progress and deep, essential and genuine introspection.

We will formulate a collective response and express what it means

to be young people today

How many times are we forced to ask ourselves #WhoAmI? And who knows how long we will have to ask this question. Many people have shaped our lives; many experiences have defined our identity. Increasing inequality and #differences exist around us, which often cause division and conflicts.

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Oftentimes, we find ourselves saying that we are the generation of the future. Tomorrow, however, is full of uncertainty and questions. What aspirations and hopes can we cultivate for our #future? In the unconstrained progress in technology, does our #DigitalWorld represent an opportunity or a risk? In the hyper-commu-nicative and hyper-connected world, how can we come in contact with our #InteriorLife and open our heart to the spiritual realm?

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Part Two FAITH AND VOCATION. DISCERNMENT AND ACCOMPANIMENT

The faith, a journey which gives meaning to our freedom, leads to human fulfilment. In par-ticular, faith in Jesus Christ speaks of a humanity that has been touched, indeed lived by God. The consequence of this meeting of the human and divine enthusiastically compels us towards our true good that is unknown to us. Only in per-sonal experiences, in a journey, in the intersect-ing of family bonds and personal relationships is the truth about ourselves revealed, a truth which guides our choices.

Thoughts and silent moments to be shared about God and his mysterious ways?

Do you have something to say about #Jesus to today’s young people? How do they come to know him and what are their thoughts on him?

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What are the underpinnings of our lives? What is the hope that makes young people say: #IBelieve?

Can we recognize that each of us is #called to be happy and to achieve something special? Let’s try to indicate how the important #choices in our lives take shape. We sense a need for assis-tance to look outside ourselves. However, to find out what is inside ourselves requires another per-son’s perspective, a #guide who accompanies us.

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Part Three THE CHURCH’S FORMATIVE AND PASTORAL ACTIVITY

In these times, the Church hopes that young people can be true witnesses in proclaiming Jesus to the world, which requires rediscovering and re-capturing the enthusiasm of the young generation and creating ways which can make young people leading figures in life.

The basis for this change must be the shared-re-sponsibility of the Church and young people. The Church is asked to devise new approaches and new instruments and forms of involvement, adapted to the young generation, who are asked to participate and add their own characteristic mark.

We can say what is on our mind and have a dialogue with Pope Francis

and the Church

What is the #Church to do in bearing wit-ness to the Gospel and in acting in a credible way

for young people? What manner of life should the Church adopt so that all young people can feel that they are #ActivelyInvolved in it? The Church needs the outlook and sensitivity of young people to faithfully fulfil its mission. What are the #places to encounter young people?

What #proposals move the hearts of young people and set them on the journey of life? What #WaysAndMeans can the Church use to speak authentically about life and about the joy from God-given gifts and communion?

www.synod2018.va www.facebook.com/synod2018www.instagram.com/synod2018 www.twitter.com/synod2018#Synod2018

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter of his Holiness Pope Francis to Young People (13 January 2017) . . . . . . 3

Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The Work Outline . . . . . . . . . 15

Letter of Invitation . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

VATICAN PRESS