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At the audience granted by Pope Benedict XVI to the young people participating in the UNIV Congress (April 10, 2006)

In the audience granted by Pope Benedict XVI to the young participating in the UNIV Congress

Holy Father:

I would like to thank Your Holiness for having consented to receive the participants in the UNIV International Congress this morning—a congress which has been held in Rome each year since 1968. The aim of this meeting is to help university students to be aware of the challenges presented by today’s society and to help them to collaborate—each in his or her own place of study or work—in the task of bringing Christ to all environments. Thus so many people who are awaiting him, perhaps without knowing it, and who need him, can find him and get to know him.

Since the 1930’s, St. Josemaría Escrivá dedicated himself passionately to the university. He invited students, one by one, personally, to the task of “spreading goodness, light, enthusiasm, generosity, a spirit of sacrifice, constancy in work, deep study” (Furrow, no. 937).

To meet the Holy Father is always, for a son or daughter of the Church, a source of deep joy. It is also a call to responsibility, confirming the mission the Church has conferred upon each one: that of being “anchored firmly in the word of Christ, capable of responding to the challenges of our times” (Message for the XXI World Youth Day). The Roman Pontiff has set forth this goal especially for young people, who trust sincerely in Your prayer for this intention. As Your Holiness has suggested, we place the prayer and work of these days in the hands of Mary, in order to be closer to Jesus on the Cross.

I now hand over the meeting to the President of UNIV 2006. Thank you again, Holy Father.

Romana, n. 42, January-June 2006, p. 105-106.

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