In a letter addressed to young people, Pope Francis has introduced a new edition of the YOUCAT (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church), emphasizing that “Christ is the password for a joyful life.”
The Pope’s letter, published in the Italian newspaper La Stampa on Monday, encouraged young individuals to discover the secret to a fulfilling life through a close relationship with Jesus Christ.
In his letter, Pope Francis expressed his positive view of the new YOUCAT edition. “Reading the Gospel, praying assiduously, and studying the catechism with enthusiasm helps us to ‘transfer’ to our heart and our mind the eyes, feelings, and attitudes of Jesus,” he said.
The pontiff highlighted the significance of love as the driving force behind Christian existence. “Love is the primary reason for the existence of the Church,” he remarked.
He stressed the tenderness and mercy that God the Father has for every individual, as revealed by Jesus through His life, death, and resurrection.
Citing Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Deus caritas est, Pope Francis emphasized the transformative power of encountering Jesus, stating that such an encounter provides a new horizon and direction to one’s life.
He encouraged young people to deepen their knowledge of Jesus to properly love and make Him known to others.
The YOUCAT, based on the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church, is presented in a style and rhythm tailored to young people.
Pope Francis urged young readers to embrace the YOUCAT, describing it as “a beautiful book that you now have in your hands is born from such love: the love for Jesus that we believers carry within.”
The pontiff invited young Catholics to consider the question, “What would Christ do in my place?” as a guiding principle in their daily lives.
He asserted that this perspective is the key to maintaining a strong connection with Jesus and, consequently, to a truly alive and joyful life.
Pope Francis concluded his letter by offering Christ as the genuine “password” to happiness.
He expressed his desire for young people to experience “the youth of life, this newness of life, this fullness of life is what I wish for you, dear young friends.”
