In the Paul VI Audience Hall, Pope Francis met with 2,500 young altar servers on a pilgrimage from France and called them to be witnesses of their faith to others.
POPE FRANCIS
You have chosen to be ministers, and I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the efforts, and sometimes the sacrifices, that you accept in order to devote yourselves to this commitment as ministers, while many of your other friends prefer to sleep in on Sunday mornings or play sports...
Don't be ashamed to serve the Altar, even if you are alone, even if you are growing up. It is an honor to serve Jesus when he gives his life for us in the Eucharist.
The Pope also encouraged the group to create real friendships rather than virtual ones and to remain close to their families.
The young pilgrims, coming from all 51 French dioceses, visited some of the major sites in Rome before returning back to their homes in France.
KG
