In a compelling third installment of the "Building Bridges" initiative, Pope Francis recently connected with twelve young Catholic university students from across Asia. The virtual dialogue, organized by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the Institute for Pastoral Studies, and Loyola University Chicago's Office for Global and Community Engagement, took place on September 26th.
The synodal discussion focused on critical topics such as social networks and media literacy, bullying, teenage suicide, religious freedom, and testimony. Pope Francis shared heartfelt insights with the Asian youth, emphasizing the importance of embracing the beauty of diversity.
Three courageous Catholic university students from South Asia, Florina from Delhi, India, Nyra from Nepal, and Sheril from Pakistan, a minority Christian community, opened up to Pope Francis about their experiences of prejudice, discrimination, and persecution. They expressed their hopes for a brighter future and their challenges in openly practicing their faith.
Moved by their narratives, Pope Francis drew a poignant parallel to the plight of "Asia Bibi" from Pakistan, an innocent victim of fanaticism driven by fear of differences. He highlighted the dangers of reducing social values to rigid ideologies and urged the young people to embrace diversity and reach out with forgiveness and understanding.
Addressing concerns about cultural and religious identity in a diaspora, Pope reassured a student named Rosita, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting others' viewpoints while preserving one's convictions.
Several students addressed pressing societal issues in Asia, including bullying and youth suicides. Pope Francis shared a personal story of a classmate who overcame the trauma of bullying, emphasizing the importance of recognizing inner and outer beauty and avoiding the temptation to standardize everything.
Pope also touched upon the critical issue of youth suicide, urging support for young individuals facing failure and emphasizing the resilience inherent in humanity.
Two students, Mary Lavina and Joseph, discussed the challenges of the internet in Asia and the significance of media literacy. They highlighted the internet's benefits, including access to knowledge, but also its role in increasing polarization and tensions.
Pope Francis stressed the need for creativity, equality in technology access, and the avoidance of harmful ideologies to create a better online space.
Addressing the spread of half-truths, Pope Francis called for fidelity to facts and the importance of presenting the complete truth in news. He underscored the necessity of dialogue for a thriving democracy and the power of agreements reached through understanding and cooperation.
Pope Francis emphasized that through dialogue, humanity can be nurtured, reaffirming the importance of building bridges in an increasingly interconnected world.