VATICAN - Benedict XVI underlines a fundamental fact for evangelisation: “Wherever God is not given first place and recognised and adored as the supreme Being, the dignity of the human person is in danger. Therefore it is urgent to lead men and women of today to ‘discover’ the authentic face of God who has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ”.

Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) - “A wonderful Church experience, a providential event of grace for the whole Church”: this was how Pope Benedict XVI described the recent 20th World Youth Day event in Germany. He was speaking on Sunday 28 August before the recitation of the midday Angelus prayer with visitors gathered in the courtyard at his Summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome.
The Pope said that from Cologne the young participants “launched a message and a request to their Bishops and in a sense to all beleivers: ‘Help us to be disciples and witnesses of Christ. Like the Three Wise men we have come looking for him to adore him’.” Referring to the difficulties and obstacles encountered by those who “search for Christ and strive to be faithful to his Gospel”, the Holy Father said young people, communities and bishops must be “ever more aware of a fundamental fact for evangelisation: Wherever God is not given the first place and recognised and adored as the supreme Being, the dignity of the human person is in danger. Therefore it is urgent to lead men and women of today to ‘discover’ the authentic face of God who has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ… a longing and searching for Christ must fill all believers, young and old, faithful and bishops. This search must be sustained and guided. Faith is not following a complicated set of dogmas which would stifle the human soul’s thirst for God. On the contrary faith leads the person on a journey in time towards God infinite and ever new. A Christian therefore is one who at the same time searches and finds. This is what makes the Church young, open to the future and rich in hope for all humanity.”
On the feast day of Saint Augustine Pope Benedict XVI quoted the “eloquent reflections ” of the 4th century bishop on the call in Psalm 104 “Quaerite faciem eius semper - Strive always to see his face”, and he said “that call is for this life and for eternity. Our striving to see the ‘face of God’ is never over. The more we discover the splendour of divine love the more we find delight in our searching”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 29/8/2005; righe 25, parole 376)