Listen to your heart

The Pope's one-day trip on June 17 marked the 500th anniversary of the conversion of St Francis. The motive for this pilgrimage to the birthplace of St Francis of Assisi was his desire to relive the interior journey of Francis and to add once more the global recognition of St Francis as a man of peace.

During his visit, Benedict XVI launched two strong appeals.

Feeling the high tension of violence in the Middle East, especially in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, which was taken over by Hamas militia forces in mid-June, his thoughts went especially to St Francis who loved so much Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon and the entire Middle East.

St Francis teaches all of us that religious belief is not incompatible with dialogue. From a square next to the basilica of St Francis the Pontiff appealed for the end of violent conflicts: "We feel spiritually close to all those who weep, suffer and die as a result of war and its tragic consequences". He was speaking about wars in whatever part of the world but more emphatically for the Middle East. The population of these lands have known for too long a time the horrors of combat and violence. The Pope said it was "an illusion to believe that force alone can resolve conflicts. Only responsible dialogue supported by the international community can put an end to so much pain". That was the first morning appeal at the noon blessing.

After meeting the Franciscans and presiding over several events, he concluded his pilgrimage at the square next to the basilica of St Mary of the Angels where St Francis founded his Order. He considered that moment as of great significant importance: The encounter with thousands of young people. He was a strong believer that it was the culmination of the day's events.

He initiated his appeal: "St Francis speaks to all men and women, but I know that he had a special attraction for young people. Your presence here in great numbers confirms this". He quoted lines from the Legend of the Three Companions: St Francis was expansive and highly strung, addicted to gaming and song, he wandered aimlessly throughout the city of Assisi by day and by night with friends of his caste, so generous in spending on lunches and other delights, all that he could have or gain.

The Pope put a question to the youths: "How many young people of today could be described in a similar way?" and continued to reflect: "Now there is also the possibility to go beyond our own cities in search of enjoyment. Each weekend recreational events gather the youth in great numbers. Now we can also 'wander' virtually, 'surfing' the net in search of all kinds of information and contacts. Unfortunately, there is no small number - actually there are far too many - young men and women who search for fatuous and destructive surroundings in the artificial paradise of drugs. How can we deny that there are many young people and some not too young who attempted to follow the lifestyle of the youthful Francis before his conversion? Deep down, in that way of life there was the desire for happiness, which inhabits each heart. But could that life give true joy? Francis certainly did not find it so".

The Pope quotes biographical texts that show St Francis liked to have sumptuous clothes tailored for him and sought to be original. In vanity, in the search of originality, there is something which touches us all directly. Today, there is much talk about "taking care of one's image" or keeping up with appearance. In order to have the slightest chance of success, we have to strike others with something original. In a certain way, this may be expressed in an innocent desire for acceptance. But all too often it is penetrated by an excessive search for ourselves, egoism and desire to outdo others. This same thirst for glory drew him on the battlefield and led him to becoming a prisoner for a year in Perugia. But it was in a new military campaign in Spoleto which induced him to retrace his steps and listen seriously to the Lord.

That's all said about St Francis who died in 1226. Earlier, John Paul II had asked the youths to know more about this cheerful hippy of Assisi. I remember him shouting this appeal with the powerful impact of his gestures and the symbology of his body in the depths of illness.

The words of Benedict XVI presenting St Francis as a model of youths for the second time with a low flow of words economically accurate captured the attention of the most distracted among the friars gathered under the big cupola of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the thousands of faithful who thronged in the square. He puts questions, offers replies and invites reflections.

Now, in 2007, where do we expect to find the next St Francis of Assisi? Silent in awe revising his assignment or neatly dressed for the campus parade? The editorial of the Catholic Herald's issue covering the visit of Benedict XVI to Assisi offers to its readers a clue to this treasure hunt! Next time you wander through the streets of your home town on a Saturday evening, weaving between drunken and brawling louts, bear this thought in mind: That young man sprawled on the pavement might just be the next St Francis of Assisi.

We should never write off our young people - both inside and outside the Church. Each of them has a potential to be one of the greatest saints of all time. Even if, for now, they might be content to spend their weekends marauding down high street.

In his masterful speech to young people in Assisi, the Pope wanted to highlight the figure of St Francis as a model for them. By discovering Christ, St Francis was able to see the world in a different way. His interior gaze has become so pure and penetrating that it recognises the beauty of the Creator in the beauty of creation. His commitment to peace is of great relevance today, in a world deeply in need of peace but unable to find the right path.

Benedict XVI says the example of St Francis can bring peace to the Middle East. He was a man of peace, tolerance and dialogue as we see in his encounter with the Sultan. St Francis loved the silence of prayers and of nature, something greatly needed in modern times. "We risk," the Pope argued, "going through an entire life deafened by noisy but empty voices."

"Like British yobs who spend hundreds of pounds on the latest trainers," observes the leader of the Catholic paper. "Francis bought the most expensive clothes in order to maintain his position as one of the best dressed young men of Assisi. No doubt, his friends could have sniggered if someone had told them that Francis would be associated forever in history with poverty and dedicates his life to serving the lepers, the poor and suffering."

Of course, he did not become a saint overnight. His spiritual awakening was slow and difficult and he experienced plenty of disappointments on the way, mostly by his closest followers. Step by step he allowed himself to be taken by the hand and guided by God towards a full encounter with Christ to the point of making it the precious treasure of his life. "May our young people," repeated many times Benedict XVI, "understand how much the figure of St Francis speaks to their hearts."