Pope Encourages Youth to Evangelize Hometowns

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 7, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI encouraged young people to be missionaries on the streets and in the neighborhoods of their own cities.At the end of the recital of the midday Angelus today, the Pope greeted 500 young missionaries who, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 7, participated in the 4th mission of Rome called Jesus at the Center. "I congratulate you, dear friends, because you have brought the proclamation of God’s love to the streets and to some hospitals and schools of the city," said the Pontiff. "The missionary experience is part of Christian formation and it is important for adolescents and young people to be able to live it personally," he added. The Holy Father concluded, "Continue to witness to the Gospel every day and commit yourselves generously in the next missionary initiatives in the Diocese of Rome."