Pre-Synodal Diary: 4 day

After four days of intensive work, we started drawing up the first draft of the final document which will be presented to the Pope on Sunday.

Preparing a document which could express the thoughts of all young people in the world is definitely difficult and the various groups had a number of amendments to present. Everybody was of the idea that the document should not be too euro-centred so as to ensure that the diverse youth realities in the world would assume ownership of this document. Among the many themes, that, related to affectivity and sexuality, repeatedly stands out very forcefully. A good number of free but well explained criticisms were addressed to the Church. These are aimed at helping the Church to be more youth friendly.

It was therefore a day characterized by courage, compromises and choices, truly an experience of profitable communitarian discernment.

Maybe without even realizing it, overtaken by the excitement of this pre-synod week, we are experiencing what the Pope wished to bring to the attention of the world with this Synod, that is, a new youth protagonism, serious discussions on faith, not only among believers but also with atheists and other religions, and a profound experience of discernment which leads to sensible choices in the life of each one of us.

Luisa Alfarano – IFCA Youth Coordination