APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF POPE BENEDICT XVI
TO PORTUGAL ON THE OCCASION OF THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE BEATIFICATION OF JACINTA AND FRANCISCO,
YOUNG SHEPHERDS OF FÁTIMA  

TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE
GATHERED IN FRONT OF THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIATURE

GREETING OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

Apostolic Nunciature - Lisbon
Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Dear Friends,

I appreciated the lively and numerous participation of young people in this afternoon’s Mass on the Terreiro do Paço, a clear indication of their faith and their desire to build their future on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your joyful witness to Christ, who is eternally young, and thank you for the kindness you have shown to his humble Vicar on earth by gathering here this evening. You have come to wish me good night and from my heart I thank you; but now you must let me go and sleep, otherwise the night will not be good, and tomorrow awaits us.

I am very happy in being able to join the multitude of pilgrims to Fatima on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Beatification of Francisco and Jacinta. With Our Lady’s help, they learned to recognize God’s light in the depths of their hearts and to adore it in their lives. May the Virgin Mary obtain the same grace for you and may she protect you! I continue to count on you and on your prayers that this Visit to Portugal may bear abundant fruit. And now, with great affection, I give you my blessing, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Good night! See you tomorrow. Thank you very much!