Les Jeunes, le Travail et l’Avenir du Travail (11 Avril 2018, Genève)

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Article written by Amélie Peyrard (ICMC)*

Pre-Synod Meeting – Rome – 19th to 23rd March 2018

In 2016, Pope Francis called the Church to reflect upon the reality that Young people encounter and on their vocational path. Therefore, He convened the next Synod of the Bishop to meet in October 2018, and to discuss on the specific theme: “Young people, faith and vocational discernment”.

When the Pope sent out this invitation to the Catholic Church, he wanted the young people to take part in the reflection and to contribute to the inputs that would be shared during the Synod Meeting in October.

To enable this to happen, the Vatican organize a pre-Synod meeting from the 19th to 23rd March 2018 in Rome, for Young leaders from all around the world to meet and share their concerns and inputs as a contribution to the upcoming Synod meeting.

Among the 300 participants who participated at the meeting, there were leaders from youth organization, partners to the project “The Future of Work, Labour after Laudato Si”. It was a good occasion for them to promote the essence of the project.

For the opening of the meeting, Pope Francis addressed a strong message to the young people and set the course for the journey as he welcomed the participants.

He reminded them their relevant role in the society contrary to all the negative influence that the society and media give on young people.

At the heart on his message, Pope Francis also remembered the many young people facing difficulties in the world of work that exclude them from society. He gave out his faith and entrust to build a future with hope and dignity.

Throughout the meeting, the participants shared their realities and reflected on their convictions. These discussions enable them to develop a synthesis of the input they will pass on their bishops and Church responsible.

Once again, Labour and the Future of Work were part of the major concerns of the young people.

In the part 3 of the final document, entitled Young people and the Future, young leaders affirm their will to have inherent dignity of work and they say: “Young people dream of a better life, yet many are forced to emigrate in order to find a better economic and environmental situation. They hope for peace and are especially attracted to the “Western myth”, as depicted through media. Young Africans dream of a self-reliant local church, one that does not require aid that feeds into dependency, but one that is a life-giving contributor to its communities.”

Moreover, in the same text, young people expressed their worries and their thought related to the ‘Search for meaning in Life’. One of the conclusion, is a call to the Church to accompany them in their discernment path and to encourage each one experience.

After this fruitful meeting, young leaders are looking forward to the bishop Synod meeting next October and see how their inputs will be taken into deep consideration by the Church.

* Amélie PEYRARD, former International President of the International Coordination of Young Christian Workers (ICYCW – CIJOC) from 2012 to 2016. Currently studying a Master Degree in International Cooperation and NGOs. In relation to her studies, she is involved as an intern in the Research Track 3. Jobs, demography and migration led by the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)