VATICAN CITY (UCAN) -- Pope John Paul II's recent Jubilee appeal to some 2 million youth was to turn to Christ as "the way of justice, solidarity and commitment to building a society and a future worthy of the human person."

Young people greatly need the Eucharist, because very often they are tempted by "the illusion of an easy and comfortable life, by drugs and pleasure-seeking, only to find themselves in a spiral of despair, meaninglessness and violence," the pope said at a Mass Aug. 20 on the outskirts of Rome.

The Mass on the grounds of Rome University's Tor Vergata campus officially closed the special celebration of the 15th World Youth Day and Jubilee of Youth events Aug. 15-20 during the Jubilee of the Year 2000.

Among the youth delegates from 159 countries were young people from Bangladesh, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Youth from Macao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Singapore also joined international groups at the event. A few dozen Catholics from mainland China who were already in the West for various reasons also participated.

"Dear friends, when you go back home, set the Eucharist at the center of your personal life and community life: love the Eucharist, adore the Eucharist and celebrate it," Pope John Paul exhorted the youth.

In asking them to follow Christ with courage and without reserve, he said, "If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire."

At the prayer vigil Aug. 19, he observed that while it is difficult to believe in Christ at the present time, "there is no need to hide it."

To follow Christ means to take a stand for him even to the point of martyrdom, the martyrdom of those who, today as yesterday, are called to go against the tide, the pope said.

"Perhaps you will not be asked to shed your blood, but you will certainly be asked to be faithful to Christ; a faithfulness to be followed in the circumstances of everyday life," he told the youth, who kept interrupting his speech with applause.

To meet Christ, he told them, is to listen to "the word of Jesus" in silence and in prayer, and seek help in understanding its meaning for their life from priests and teachers. "Then you will meet Christ," he added.

The young people enthusiastically responded to his words, and their response in turn seemed to energize the pope. Before bidding them good night around 11.30 p.m., he recalled a Polish proverb: "If you live with young people, you will become young yourself." He added, "I have been rejuvenated."

They cheered and cheered as he left, and then settled down for the night on the campus grounds to await his return for the concluding Mass in the morning.

The pope opened the youth celebrations at two separate venues Aug. 15. He first greeted hundreds of thousands of Italian youth in front of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, and then he welcomed some 300,000 young people from throughout the world at St. Peter's Square.

He recounted his own faith journey, his priestly vocation and later election as pope, to help them understand that "God is at work in the concrete and personal situations of each one of us," sometimes in "truly mysterious ways."

Stressing the personal aspect of Christ's love for each of them, he said, "Don't ever think that you are unknown to him, as if you were just a number in an anonymous crowd. Each one of you is precious to Christ; He knows you personally, he loves you tenderly, even when you are not aware of it."

The youth cheered loudly, waved scarves, flags and hats, sang and shouted: "Viva il Papa! Long live the pope!"

Responding to their shouts, the pope said, "He has lived 80 years, but the young people want him always to be young. What can he do?"

From Aug. 16-18, the youth gathered in some 300 meeting venues in and around Rome for catechetical and discussion sessions with more than 300 cardinals and bishops from around the world.

Throughout the week the youth reflected, prayed and sang as they went about the city for the celebrations.

Day after day, thousands of them passed through the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica and renewed their profession of faith at the tomb of the Apostle Peter there as part of the special Jubilee celebration.

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