"The Decalogue is like a compass in a stormy sea" (07/08/01)

THE PAPAL VISIT TO UKRAINE, JUNE 23-27, 2001

"The Decalogue is like a compass in a stormy sea"

Excerpts of papal address during a meeting with youth at the Nativity of the Theotokos Church in the Sykhiv region of Lviv on Tuesday, June 26.

... Today Christ asks you the same question that He asked the apostles: "Will you also go away?" And you, young people of Ukraine, how do you reply? I am sure that with me you too will make your own the words of Peter: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Seeing so many of you, and so enthusiastic, my thoughts go back to the World Youth Day which took place in Rome in August last year and at which many of you were present. There I invited the young people of the whole world to open a great "school of faith," a place in which to search for and examine more deeply the reasons for following Christ the Savior. Today we are experiencing a significant moment of the "school of faith" here in your land, where the proclamation of the Gospel arrived more than a thousand years ago. ...

Dear young people, when lived in this way [in accordance with the words of eternal life], history becomes a path to freedom. Do you wish to travel this path? Do you too wish to be part of this adventure? The future of Ukraine and of the Church in this country depends also on your reply. You are not alone on this journey. You are part of a great people of believers who look back to an ancient patriarch, Abraham. He heard the call of the Lord and set out, becoming our "father in faith," because he believed and trusted the Lord Who promised him land and descendants.

From Abraham's faith came the chosen people, who under the guidance of Moses undertook the exodus from slavery in Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land. At the center of the exodus is the Sinai covenant, based on the 10 words of God: the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments. These are "words of eternal life," because they are always valid, and because they give life to those who observe them. ...

In today's world we see profound and rapid social changes, and many moral points of reference have become shaky, throwing people into confusion and sometimes despair. The Decalogue is like a compass in a stormy sea which enables us to keep on course and reach land. This is why today I wish to present the commandments of the Decalogue to you anew, young people of Ukraine, in a symbolic way, so that they will be your "compass," the solid point of reference for building your present and your future. ...

Dear young people, your country is going through a difficult and complex transition from the totalitarian regime which oppressed it for so many years to a society at last free and democratic. Freedom however needs strong, responsible and mature consciences. Freedom is demanding, and in a sense is more costly than slavery!

For this reason, as I embrace you like a father, I say to you: choose the narrow path that the Lord is showing you through his commandments. They are words of truth and life. The path that often seems wide and easy later shows itself to be deceptive and false. Do not go from the slavery of the Communist regime to the slavery of consumerism, another form of materialism which, without explicitly rejecting God, actually does deny Him by excluding Him from life.

Without God you will not be able to do anything good. With His help, however, you will be able to face all the challenges of the present moment. You will succeed in making demanding decisions, against the current, as for example the decision to stay confidently in your own country, without giving in to the illusions of an easy life abroad. You are needed here, young people, ready to make your contribution to improving the social, cultural, economic and political situation of your own country. Here the talents in which you are rich are needed for the future of your country, which has such a glorious history behind it.

The future of Ukraine depends in large part on you and the responsibilities that you will undertake. God will not fail to bless your efforts, if you commit your lives to generous service to family and society, placing the common good before private interests. Ukraine needs men and women dedicated to serving society, having as their aim the promotion of the rights and well-being of all, especially the weakest and most deprived. ...

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