This year’s theme of “World Youth Day” (The 25th World Youth Day) is: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)

Pope Benedict XVI granted his vision to the young people with sincere words and earnest wishes:

“Jesus shows great concern for young people. He shows how great his desire is to meet with you personally and open a dialogue with each one of you."

“The Lord's gaze is at the core of that very special encounter, and of all Christian experience. In fact, Christianity is not primarily an ethic, but an experience of Jesus Christ who loves us personally, young and old, poor and rich; He loves us even when we turn our backs on Him".

“In this love lies the source of all Christian life and the fundamental reason for evangelization; for if we have truly encountered Jesus, we cannot but bear witness to Him to those people who have not yet encountered His gaze.”

"The rich young man asks Jesus: 'What must I do?' The stage of life you are currently experiencing is a time of discovery: the gifts that God has generously lavished on you and your responsibilities. It is, moreover, a time of fundamental choices to create a plan for your lives. It is a moment, therefore, to question yourselves about the authentic meaning of existence and to ask: 'Am I satisfied with my life? Is there something lacking?'"

"Do not be afraid to address these questions… but able to satisfy your authentic expectations of life and happiness, listen to God and his "plan of love for each one of you."

"Jesus invited his disciples to fully devote their lives as gifts, disregarding personal gains and losses with unreserved trust in God. All saints accepted this strict invitation with humility and obedience to follow the crucified and risen Christ. Their perfection is incomprehensible according to the logic of human nature, as they no longer put themselves at the center, but rather choose to go against the current of the present-day mentality to live out Gospel life.”

“’What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ The young man in the gospel asked the question which seems far from the concerns of many contemporary young people. Jesus when, turning to his disciples, he affirms: 'I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.' (John 16:22)

"To ask oneself about the definitive future that awaits each one of us gives full meaning to existence, because it orients the plan of life toward horizons that are not limited and passing, but ample and profound. These horizons help us not to make absolute values of earthly realities, aware that God is opening greater prospects for us, repeating the words of St. Augustine, 'I exhort you not to forget this perspective in your own lives: We are called to eternity.'”

“Jesus reminds the rich young man about the Ten Commandments, calling them "essential points of reference to live in love”, to clearly distinguish good from evil and build a solid and lasting plan of life."

“These are questions that go against the current of the present-day mentality. Since today's mentality proposes a liberty disconnected from values, rules, objective norms and rejects every limitation to desires of the moment."

“This type of proposal, instead of leading to true liberty, leads man to become a slave of himself, of his immediate desires, of idols such as power, money, unbridled pleasure and the seductions of the world.”

“Despite the difficulties, do not let yourselves be discouraged and do not give up your dreams!”

“Christ calls each of you to commit yourselves, with Him, and to assume your responsibilities to build a civilization of love. If you follow his word, your path will be enlightened and will be led to an ambitious goal, so that you will get a complete sense of joy and life."

World youth day this year will be celebrated in all the dioceses of the world on Palm Sunday, 28th March. The next World Youth Day will take place in August 2011 at Madrid, Spain.

Let us continue to pray for the young people of the Diocese of Hong Kong and grant them an open heart and an open mind, so that they are willing to take up the great mission that is given by God.