Castelgandolfo, 18 (NE) "Dear young friends, do not doubt about God’s love for you! He has a place in His heart for you and a mission for you in the world," exclaimed Pope John Paul II to the almost 400 young participants of the International Forum, during the Mass that was celebrated Thursday for them in the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo. The Forum had taken place in Rome from August 12 to 15.

Also present at Mass were Cardinal James Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Secretary of the same Council, Bishop Stanislao Rylko.

During the Mass, the Holy Father urged those present to understand their participation at the event as a blessing and also as a responsibility which demands a response of conversion that becomes concrete in the apostolic work. "The task is enormous," stated the Pope, "but do not forget that, when the Lord calls us, He gives us the necessary strength and grace to answer the calling."

"Dear young friends," later exhorted the Pope, "love Christ and love the Church! Love Christ as He loves you. Love the Church as Christ loves her." Towards the end, he emphatically reminded the young people that "authentic love doesn’t put conditions, doesn’t make calculations, doesn’t recriminate, it simply loves."