Youth Invited to John Paul II Memorial Mass

The genuine Christian is never sad, even when he has to face trials of a different sort, because the presence of Jesus is the secret of his joy and peace.

VATICAN CITY (Zenit) - Benedict XVI is inviting young people of the diocese of Rome to attend a Mass on April 2, to mark the fourth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death.

The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff published a note Thursday stating that the Mass will begin at 6 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica. The event will be part of the World Youth Day celebrations, which this year are being observed in dioceses on Palm Sunday.

Also this Sunday, a delegation of young people from Australia will be in Rome to hand over the World Youth Day cross to young people from Madrid, where the 2011 event will take place. The cross has been based in Sydney since the last youth day, in July 2008.

The Pope makes an invitation to young people in his message written for this year's youth day: "Choose options that manifest your faith; make it known that you have understood the snares of the idolatry of money, of material goods, of careers and success, and do not let yourselves be attracted by these false illusions.

"Do not yield to the logic of egoistic self-interest; on the contrary, cultivate love of neighbor and make the effort to place yourselves, with your human and professional capacities, at the service of the common good and of truth, always willing to give an answer to anyone who asks about the reason for your hope."

The Pontiff adds, "The genuine Christian is never sad, even when he has to face trials of a different sort, because the presence of Jesus is the secret of his joy and peace."