Most Holy Father, welcome to Saint Joseph’s Seminary!

We are truly delighted to have you here to greet, address, and inspire the youth of the Church in the United States, and with them, our future priests, sisters, and brothers.

This is not an easy time in which to be young. Attractions to much that is unworthy of brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ abound on every side. Movies, television, magazines, and the internet, to mention but a few of the most serious challenges to the spiritual well-being of us all, are constantly calling young people away from what is holy and wholesome. Hence, they need to hear another voice—the voice of the Vicar of Christ, inviting and urging them to justice, compassion, honor, cleanness of heart, and a habit of prayer.

Accordingly, Most Holy Father, we welcome you with enthusiasm and affection; and we thank you most sincerely for your coming to be with us. To meet and pray with the Supreme Shepherd of the Church is an extraordinary grace and privilege, and one that none of the youth gathered here will ever forget. Nor will they forget to pray for you and your mission of service to the People of God and, indeed, to all of God’s children across the world.

We are particularly pleased, Most Holy Father, that you asked that our future priests, sisters, and brothers be invited to participate in this rally of celebration, song, and prayer. Never were vocations to priestly and consecrated life more urgently needed in our nation. “The harvest is indeed great,” as the number of the faithful increases in every corner of the land. Thus, we pray that more and more young people will come forward to answer the invitation of the Divine Master to serve Him and His Church as priests and religious.

Recently, Most Holy Father, you wrote an Encyclical Letter, entitled “Saved by Hope.” Here before you is the hope of the Mystical Body of Christ in the United States of America. In your Encyclical you observed that “life is like a voyage in which we watch for the stars that indicate the route,” and you ask, “Who more than Mary could be a star of hope for us?”

We respond by promising to ground our hopes firmly in the grace of the Savior and the loving intercession of His Mother, Mary. At the same time, we beg you to confirm us in our faith, inspire us in our charity, and strengthen us in our hope—all of which we seek as your faithful children who thank you for your leadership, earnestly await your words, and rejoice with all the enthusiasm and vigor of youth in the incredible blessing of your coming to be with us this afternoon.

Welcome, Vicar of Christ, and be assured that as the dedicated clergy, devoted religious, and committed laity of the future, we will keep you ever in our prayers and in our love as well.