We cannot but be amazed by the trail-blazing moves made by Pope Francis these past few months. First, was his trip to Panama for the World Youth Day. Then, his visit to Abu Dhabi, to commemorate the 8th centenary of the meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and Sultan al-Malik al Kāmil. On that occasion, he said, “I have welcomed the opportunity to come here as a believer thirsting for peace, as a brother seeking peace with the brethren. We are here to desire peace, to promote peace, to be instruments of peace.”

Recently, he also convened the Summit for the Protection of Minors. Much still needs to be done to address this issue, but with his facing the problem squarely, we can now hope for a solution. The above-mentioned events clearly show the Pope’s priorities: inter-faith and intercultural dialogue, and concern for the youth.

As the Philippine Church gears up to celebrate, come 2021, the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the country, these two priorities also appear among the themes animating the 9-year preparations which started in 2013. In fact, the local Church has proclaimed 2019 as the Year of the Youth while 2020 will focus on Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue.

To be a man of dialogue and communion is indeed to be Christ-like. It is a challenge nowadays to preserve the missionary spirit of Christianity, to go out to the whole world to proclaim the Gospel. We know that Christ exhorted us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. This perfection essentially consists in being perfect in love, in being merciful, for this father in heaven is a God who is Love.

As Pope Francis expressed it so well, the name of God is Mercy. This merciful and compassionate love is essential for engaging in dialogue and dealing with the youth, which comprise the majority of the world’s population – the hope of the future and the present.

In his Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, Pope Francis warns us about two subtle enemies of holiness: contemporary Gnosticsm and modern Pelagianism. Simply put, gnostics are those who hold on to their set of beliefs and truths to the point of excluding or manipulating and even lording it over others by falling back on their so-called “holy truths.” Many of us fall into this trap when we want to drive home a point, especially when dealing with our subordinates or those younger than ourselves.

Sometimes, we hold down truths in order to preserve the “status quo” or to protect our “comfort zone.” The Holy Father warns us of its danger because this mentality makes us rigid, not allowing God to work in our lives and in our communities, and preventing the Holy Spirit from enlightening and renewing the Church.

The other subtle enemy is modern Pelagianism which makes us believe that everything is an act of our own will, leaving aside the work of the grace of God in our lives, and makes holiness unrealistic since being human also means being limited. Many Church workers fall into this trap as they continuously say “I am unworthy,” “I am weak.” This does not leave room for God’s surprises. Pope Francis has pointed out that God always surprises us and has the imagination to create new things every day.

In a way, these are also two subtle temptations or enemies of a life of dialogue and communion since they prevent us from being instruments of the merciful love of Christ for everyone, in our dealings with people whose beliefs and convictions are different from ours, and with young people. The Pope encouraged us to practice parrhesia – “that boldness, or an impulse to evangelize and leave a mark in this world” (129) and that sense of joy and humor, a fruit of the Holy Spirit because of a life lived in charity (122).

Now that we are celebrating the Year of the Youth, it would be good to engage the youth in authentic dialogue, as today they indeed demand authenticity from their elders. Otherwise, how can we shine a light on and for them who are so immersed in the complexities of modern life and burdened by the emotional baggage that preceding generations have left them with, in their turmoil, crises and fragmentation, with their wars, genocide, and power-grabbing. How can we help them overcome their delusions, and not scandalize them with our indifference to their idealism?

The Church has been on the frontlines in meeting the aspirations of the youth. In the recent World Youth Day in Panama, the Pope buoyed up their hopes and dreams. Addressing the youth in Myanmar in 2017, he encouraged them to rock the boat and take risks: “Do not be afraid to make a ruckus, to ask questions that make people think! And don’t worry if sometimes you feel that you are few and far between.

The Gospel always grows from small beginnings. So make yourselves heard. I want you to shout! But not with your voices. No! I want you to shout with your lives, with your hearts, and in this way, to be signs of hope to those who need encouragement, a helping hand to the sick, a welcome smile to the stranger, a kindly support to the lonely.”

Throughout this Lenten season, and the coming Holy Week, we will once again relive and reflect on the radicalism of love shown by that youthful Christ in his passion, death and resurrection. No need for words to explain his silence on the cross, and the cry of abandonment to prove his immense love for every human person. His radical love heals and saves the world with all its problems, for He has risen after having loved that much…