There is no greater tragedy than not to have discovered the love of God, said the founder of an organization that ministers to prostitutes and drug addicts.Father Oreste Benzi, of the Pope John XXIII Association, explained this today during a press conference to present Benedict XVI's letter for Lent, entitled "They Shall Look Upon Him Whom They Have Pierced."
The priest said: "By withdrawing into himself, man removes himself from that source of life that is God himself." Commenting on the Pope's message, Father Benzi expressed his hoped that this "Lent will be for every Christian a renewed experience of the love of God given to us in Christ, a love which every day we must in turn give again to our neighbor, especially those who suffer and are in need."
Father Benzi said that "Christ is giving great appointments to all Christians, especially to the communities and movements recognized by the Church," adding that "this time is the time of the explosion of a new Pentecost of young people toward the Church." The priest continued: "But as today young people agree that this present society is an old society, of elderly capable only of killing the most beautiful realities created by God: marriage, the family, woman's dignity, the freedom of the spirit, the love of God and of the neighbor.
"Young people again feel the fascination of Jesus the new man, and understand that those who follow him are new creatures. Young people are fascinated by direct sharing, realized by the society of the gratuitous and the civilization of love."
Father Benzi said that this explains the reason why young people themselves who followed Pope John Paul II now follow Benedict XVI. He said: "They do not follow the singer, but the message."
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