It must be seen in our capacity to forgive. It must be seen in our sensitivity to the needs of others. It must be seen in our willingness to share. It must be seen in our commitment to our neighbors, both those close at hand and those physically far away, whom we nevertheless consider to be close.

Today there are many forms of voluntary assistance, models of mutual service, of which our society has urgent need. We must not, for example, abandon the elderly to their solitude, and we must not pass by when we meet people who are suffering.

If we think and live according to our communion with Christ, then our eyes will be opened. Then we will no longer be content to scrape together a living just for ourselves, but we will see where and how we are needed….

I know that you as young people have great aspirations. I know that you want to pledge yourselves to building a better world. Let others see this, let the world see it, since this is exactly the witness that the world expects from the disciples of Jesus Christ. In this way, and through your love above all, the world will be able to discover the star that we follow as believers.

Let us go forward with Christ and let us live our lives as true worshippers of God! Amen.

Excerpted from the pope’s homily at the closing Mass of World Youth Day Cologne, August 21, 2005.