Romania: Iasi, young people write to the Pope. “We want to be artisans of peace”

“We are worried about our future, but we do not want to give up!”, write the young people of the diocese of Iasi, in north-east Romania, in a letter sent to Pope Francis through card. Pietro Parolin. In Iasi, on May 18th, the Secretary of State tok part in the Diocesan Youth Day, which was attended by over 2000 young people and 100 priests. Many of them had also attended Pope Francis’s visit to Iasi in 2019. “Your exhortations – they ensure – still resound in our hearts but above all we still feel the joy you shared with us, the peacefulness and the firmness with which you spoke to us”. For young Romanians, Pope’s advice “not to look at life from their balconies, not confuse reality with a sofa, not spend their lives only before their screens, dream big” seems difficult to put into practice. “But we know you know us very well and you want us to aim higher and higher. Thank you for trusting us!”. In addition, these young people thank the Pope for the hope he spreads at this difficult time. “Near us, our brothers and sisters are experiencing the tragedy of war. We want peace to reign all over the world! We want to be artisans of peace! Never stop reminding us of that and encouraging us!”. Then, ensuring the Pope of their prayers, they ask for the Pontiff’s to say a prayer so that “in this corner of the world we can joyfully live our friendship with Jesus in the Church, the big family of God”.
Valentina Bombelli