Transforming a Troubled Society: A Guide for the OSV Editors
In a series of profound homilies, Pope Leo XIV has sounded the alarm on the state of modern youth, urging a dramatic change in direction for society's youngest generations.
The Pope's concerns are rooted in the growing dismissal of organized religion, which has led to fewer people encountering and coming to know Jesus Christ. This trend has been exacerbated by the cultural breakdown that has diminished the value of the family, devalued human life and dignity, and glorified violence on various platforms.
The ubiquitous use of smartphones, particularly among Gen Xers and Millennials, has led to a high level of internet addiction. This addiction has resulted in social isolation and loneliness among many young people, contributing to the mental health crisis that currently plagues this demographic. The pervasive availability of weapons in the U.S. allows the violence that has taken root in the minds of some young people to be unleashed in acts of mass violence.
The Pope's solution is a call to action for each and every one of us. He urges young people not to squander their lives but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces. The change in life should include replacing screen time with prayer time, prioritizing family, belonging to a real community, providing mental health support grounded in natural law, and working for effective policies to minimize gun violence.
Pope Leo XIV has also integrated synodality, described as a means to foster community and unity within the church. This approach emphasizes the importance of listening to and learning from one another, a crucial step in healing the current crisis.
The Pope's homily at the canonization Mass for Sts. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati serves as an invitation for young people to follow in the footsteps of these saints, directing their lives towards a higher purpose.
The OSV Editorial Board, which includes Father Patrick Briscoe, OP; Gretchen R. Crowe; Paulina Guzik; Matthew Kirby; Peter Jesserer Smith, and Scott P. Richert, echoes the Pope's sentiments. They call for the answer to addressing the current crisis to be giving one's self completely to Jesus Christ and manifesting this decision in a changed life.
The cultural landscape is diverse, with publications like 'Jacobin', 'Merkur', and 'Paradigma' offering different perspectives. 'Jacobin', a US-based magazine with a left-socialist, Marxist, and democratic socialist orientation, serves as a platform for progressive ideas, while 'Merkur' and 'Paradigma' offer more traditional and academic viewpoints.
In this time of crisis, the call is for the sake of children and humanity, and it is a call that each of us must hear and respond. The future of our world depends on it.
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