Dear young people, dear families, peace be with you!

Who is afraid of the rain? Who wants God’s blessing? Thank you for being here; we are going to continue celebrating! The Church needs your enthusiasm!

Dear brothers and sisters, with great joy I greet you today, and I thank the Bishop for his words. I thank all of you for your warm welcome and for your enthusiasm, which expresses the joy of your faith.

His Excellency described Equatorial Guinea as a country that is “young, full of energy, questions and a thirst for life,” and at the same time eager to make Christ its light. These words echo the motto of this journey: Christ, light of Equatorial Guinea, toward a future of hope. However, his words are confirmed by your very presence! The brightest light here is the one that shines in your eyes, on your faces, in your smiles and through your songs and dances. Everything bears witness that Christ is the joy, meaning, inspiration and beauty of our lives.

Your nation, Equatorial Guinea, is rich in history and traditions. We saw this just a moment ago in the dances, costumes and symbols that each group used to express its identity, making our time together even more touching and meaningful. You have brought simple, everyday objects — a stick, a net, the model of an island, a boat, a musical instrument — that speak of your lives and of the ancient and noble values that sustain them, such as service, unity, hospitality, trust and celebration. This is the radiant and arduous heritage that you, dear young people, are called to embrace in faith, as the foundation of your future and of this land. The future is yours!

Saint John Paul II recalled these values upon his arrival in this country when he encountered such a vibrant and dynamic Church. He said to the faithful who had gathered to welcome him: “Always set an example of harmony among yourselves, of mutual love, of the capacity for reconciliation, of genuine respect for the rights of every citizen, every family and every social group. Respect and promote the dignity of all people in your country, as human beings and as children of God” (Address upon Arrival in Equatorial Guinea, Malabo, 18 February 1982). These words continue to guide our hearts today and should illuminate your path as you prepare for the responsibilities that await you in the future.

In this regard, Alicia spoke to us about the importance of being faithful to one’s duties and of contributing to the good of the family and society through daily work. She shared with us her dream of a land “where young people, men and women, do not seek easy success, but choose the culture of effort, discipline and hard work — a land where this is valued.” She said that being Christian means not only participating in the Eucharistic celebration, but also working with dignity and treating everyone with respect. She also spoke about the challenges women face in the workplace. Her words invite us to reflect on the importance of productive, committed effort and on the need always to uphold the dignity of every human being.

Francisco Martin confirmed this, though from the perspective of a vocation to the priesthood. He has given us a glimpse into the beautiful reality of so many young people who give themselves totally to God for the salvation of their brothers and sisters. He did not hide how difficult it was for him to find the courage to say “yes,” his fiat, “yes Lord;” yet through his words, we can all understand that entrusting oneself to God’s will brings joy and profound serenity. A life given to God is one of happiness, but it must be renewed each day through prayer, the sacraments and time spent with the brothers and sisters whom the Lord places along our path. In the communion of hearts and in acts of kindness toward those in need, the miracles of charity are continually renewed. So, if you feel that Christ is calling you to follow him in a path of special consecration — as priests, religious sisters, religious brothers, or catechists — do not be afraid to follow in his footsteps. As he himself promised, and I also wish to say emphatically to you here today — you will receive “a hundredfold and … eternal life” (Mt 19:29).

Dear friends, you have come to this gathering with your families. They are the fertile soil in which your human and Christian growth, like a young and delicate tree, sinks its roots. For this reason, I want to invite everyone to thank the Lord together for the gift of your loved ones. As Purificación and Jaime Antonio have suggested, entrust yourselves to the Lord, so that your families may grow in unity and welcome life as a gift to be cherished and nurtured, as we journey toward the Lord, the Lord who is “the way, and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). Many of you are preparing for the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Being spouses and parents is an exciting mission — a covenant to be lived day by day. Within this covenant, you will continually rediscover one another as you cooperate with God in the miracle of life and in building happiness for yourselves and for your children. Be prepared to embrace this calling as a journey of true love that grows in freedom; as a journey of hope, born from the knowledge that God will never abandon you; and as journey of holiness, in which you always seek the good and happiness of others.

I warmly thank Victor Antonio for sharing his story with such sincerity and courage. His words help us to grasp even more deeply the value of what we have been reflecting on. His testimony may unsettle us, but it does not discourage us. Rather, it invites us to build a better world — one founded on respect for burgeoning life and on a sense of responsibility toward children and the most vulnerable among us. Victor Antonio has reminded us that welcoming life requires love, commitment and care. These words, spoken by a young person, should lead us to reflect seriously on the importance of protecting and safeguarding the family and the values learned within it. Let us cultivate, live and bear witness to these values, even when it requires sacrifice, or when judgments, prejudices and stereotypes seem to diminish their worth, as Jaime Antonio and Purificación said. A family that knows how to welcome and love becomes a source of light and warmth. In this regard, Pope Francis left us some beautiful words to describe the family. He said: “The father and mother, a couple with their personal story of love… the couple that loves and begets life is a true, living icon… capable of revealing God the Creator and Savior” (Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, 9, 11).

Dear young people, parents and all who are present, let us be inspired by the beauty of love; let us become witnesses to the love that Jesus has left us and taught us! Let us show every day that it is beautiful to love — that the greatest joys, in every situation, come from knowing how to give and from giving of ourselves, especially when we reach out to those most in need. The light of charity, nurtured in our homes and lived out in faith, can truly transform the world — even its structures and institutions — so that every person is respected and no one is forgotten (cf. Francis, Message for World Food Day, 14 October 2022). Sisters and brothers, let us together make this a firm resolution, a joyful commitment, so that the crucified and risen Christ — the light of Equatorial Guinea, of Africa and of the whole world — may guide us all toward a future filled with hope. Christ, the light of Equatorial Guinea!