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TORONTO, July 26, 2002 (LSN.ca) – Pope John Paul II challenged young people in his first official address to World Youth Day participants yesterday to reject “the lure of sin, however attractive it may be.”  Getting to the heart of the matter which drives the abortion and contraceptive industry, the Pope warned against enticing voices which “propose a joy that comes with the superficial and fleeting pleasure of the senses.”

Rather than the fleeting and false joy “that can be had with money, with success, with power,” the Pope reminded the youth that true happiness – which we were made for and rightly thirst for – comes from Christ.  “Dear friends, the aged Pope, full of years but still young at heart, answers your youthful desire for happiness with words that are not his own,” said the Pope.  The beatitudes were read with the Pope noting that the words “Blessed are they – the key word in Jesus’ teaching is a proclamation of joy.”  Knowing the youth are ready and willing to accept a challenge Pope John Paul gave them the straight goods. “True joy is a victory, something which cannot be obtained without a long and difficult struggle. Christ holds the secret of this victory,” he said.  “Young people of Canada, of America and of every part of the world! By looking at Jesus you will learn what it means to be poor in spirit, meek and merciful; what it means to seek justice, to be pure in heart, to be peacemakers.”“His call has always demanded a choice between good and evil, between light and darkness, between life and death. To believe in Jesus is to accept what he says, even when it runs contrary to what others are saying.”  See the full address of the Pope:  https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2002/july/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20020725_wyd-address-youth_en.html   Also see the Pope’s opening greeting:  https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2002/july/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20020725_wyd-welcome-toronto_en.html