Pope Francis Urges Bethlehem University Students to Protect Faith

Vatican, December 28, 2024: Pope Francis has urged students of the University of Bethlehem to safeguard their faith, entrust all their needs to Jesus in prayer, and foster bonds of friendship and solidarity. In a message dated 20 December, addressed to Vice Chancellor Brother Héctor Hernán Santos González, FSC, the Holy Father extended his heartfelt greetings and spiritual closeness to the university's students ahead of Christmas and the Jubilee Year.

Highlighting Advent as a time of "joyful expectation" for Christ's coming, the Holy Father prayed that the sacred occasions of Christmas and the New Jubilee Year would inspire spiritual renewal and perseverance in the students' vocation as joyful disciples of Christ. He underscored faith as a "precious gift" to be shared rather than hidden, encouraging young people to see it as a treasure.

Acknowledging the challenges of the youth, Pope Francis reassured students to seek hope and guidance in Jesus through prayer, describing Him as the source of enduring hope and vitality. The Pope urged them to avoid isolation and instead nurture academic and social friendships, emphasizing the global need for examples of solidarity amid widespread violence worldwide.

Pope Francis encouraged the students to serve as witnesses of Gospel values, fostering dialogue, mutual understanding, and harmony among people of diverse beliefs and traditions. He entrusted the university’s staff and students to Mary, Mother of the Church, and invoked blessings of joy and peace in Christ for them.

Courtesy: Vatican News