PASTORAL LETTER VINCENT NICHOLS ARCHBISHOP OF BIRMINGHAM

ARCHBISHOP OF BIRMINGHAM
ON POPE JOHN PAUL II & YOUNG PEOPLE
12 OCTOBER 2003
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ

Today I write to you about young people and about Pope John Paul II.

On Thursday 16 October, Pope John Paul will celebrate his Silver Jubilee as Pope. For twenty-five years he has given unstinting service to the Church as Bishop of Rome, successor of the Apostle Peter.This is a moment for great rejoicing; only four popes have ever served in this highest office for so long.

The Gospel we have heard at Mass today is a passage which has had a profound influence on Pope John Paul We have just heard the words “Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk.10.17)

The Pope knows that these words echo in every inquisitive mind and heart, and especially in young adults today. He also knows that many young people are ready for a challenge: “Go and sell everything you own then come, follow me.” (Mk.10.21)
This is the message that Pope John Paul has constantly tried to bring to young people. They have responded. Time and again, huge crowds of youngsters have flocked to meet the Pope. World Youth Days have been the greatest voluntary movement of young people we have ever seen. Two million went to Rome. That’s about ten times as many for a successful rock concert.These World Youth Day events have also passed largely without any distasteful incident or crime. In this country they have never been properly reported by our media.

Why are these events so attractive? Because the Pope understands young people. He knows they must get together, celebrate and search. He is willing to accompany them, open his heart to them. In their eyes he has one great quality: he practices what he preaches.; He is a man of integrity: in him there is no hypocrisy. So many young people admire and love him.
Today I want to ask every parish to pay particular attention to their young people, their young adults. In our lives we must try to reflect, as best we can, something of the Pope’s witness to them. We must try to be attentive to young people, as Jesus was; accompany them, as he did. We do well to offer them a challenging way of living, based on the invitation of Jesus: “Come, follow me.” If we do this, then we will be challenged, too.

I plan to be involved in a number of events for young people this coming year. Already I have met with many of our youth workers and asked their advice on this Pastoral Letter. On 23 November, the Feast of Christ the King and National Youth Sunday, I will be celebrating a Youth Mass in St Anthony’s Oxford. I hope that every parish will make the most of the excellent material coming for that day from the National Catholic Youth Service. Then, on Saturday 17 January, in St. Chad’s Cathedral, we will welcome the World Youth Day cross, sent to us by the Pope, in preparation for the next World Youth Day. I invite as many young people as possible to join me in welcoming this cross, a symbol of Christ’s victory over all evil.Thirdly, in the summer from 19 – 25 July, I invite people to join me in a sponsored cycle ride right across the diocese, from North Staffordshire to South Oxfordshire! In the course of that ride I hope to meet many young people in each part of the Archdiocese.

The presence and participation of young people in our parishes is a recurring theme of the parish visitations. It is a real challenge. The Diocesan Youth Services are there to help. The youth centres, in Alton Castle and Soli House, do marvellous work. The area youth officers are wanting to play their part. Fr. Michael White coordinates this effort. Indeed, the recent review of the youth services has come up with the need for them to focus more on parish involvement.

In particular, I ask every parish to look out for potential youth leaders and others who can help with time and ability. There are mature young people and adults who are willing to help, but encouragement is needed. Don’t be daunted by the task. Help and support are available and links with the Youth Services will bear fruit. Please do encourage young people to join in existing youth groups. Indeed, I would say that every group or organisation in a parish should be looking for ways of including young people in its activities and making them welcome.

As this letter is read I am about to leave for Rome, with Bishop Philip, for our five-yearly visit to the Holy Father. During this “Ad Limina” visit we will greet the Pope in the name of every person in the Archdiocese. We will report on our shared life of faith and we shall take care to mention our resolve to work with our young people today. We shall give the Pope all the assurances of prayers for the him that I have received, especially praying the Rosary. I renew my request for those prayers, especially at this time of his failing health.


This meeting is a very special moment for Bishop Philip and I. The first bishop of this diocese, Bishop Ullathorne, found it quite emotional. I make my own the words he wrote in 1855 on the occasion of the very first “Ad Limina” visit of this diocese. Bishop Ullathorne wrote:

“A bishop at Rome seems to carry the flock of his diocese represented in his person, and their best aspirations in his single heart. He prays for them more earnestly, he thinks of them more constantly, he speaks for their spiritual good, he seems to be nothing without them and everything for them.”

May God bless you always.

+Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Birmingham
Given at Birmingham on the 7 October 2003
and appointed to be read in all Churches and Chapels of the Diocese on the 12 October, Twentieth-Eighth Sunday of the Year