Papal Expectations

March/April 2009 Issue | Posted by Tom and April Hoopes in Editor's Note

April: We were delighted with the results of our second annual essay contest. This time, the essay topic was: “What does the Pope expect from youth today?” It was difficult coming up with a winner.

Last year, we judged essays at home and the whole family got involved. This year, all the editors of Faith & Family got involved — and at one point it was Tom vs. four women.

Tom: That would be me vs. April, Danielle Bean, Robyn Lee, and Lynn Wehner. I’m badly outnumbered here.

April: I thought each of the winners had great specific examples. Tom liked one that was well written, but I didn’t think it should win because the examples weren’t as compelling and specific as the others.

Tom: I read more essays than anyone, and so I had the most comprehensive understanding of the shortcomings and special qualities of them.

For instance, I found that many contestants took the question to be something like: “What does benign adulthood expect from kids?”

So they said the Pope wants them to obey their parents, be kind to others and recycle. Which I’m sure he does. But the essay I liked gave an overview of how the Christian life relies on grace. It was refreshing to see a kid who gets it.

April: That’s very true. As you will see on page 62, all of our winners have a beautiful understanding of the faith.

This issue showcases young people elsewhere, too. For instance, the Bean boys wrote “The Boy Quiz” (page 17), a male version of last issue’s Family Mind Games. Barb Ernster talks to kids who go online responsibly on page 26. She even includes some text messaging lingo. And the Stations of the Cross art feature beginning on page 49 was from World Youth Day.

Tom: Now that’s a place where Benedict showed what he wanted from youth. Through text messages, no less.

On the night of the Stations of the Cross, for instance, he wrote: “The spirit impels us 4ward 2wards others; the fire of his love makes us missionaries of God’s charity. See you tomorrow nite –BXVI.”

April: Wait. Tom’s not joking. He just showed me where pilgrims back then could sign up for the World Youth Day papal text messages.

Wow. Talk about what the Pope expected from young people — who would have expected that from Pope Benedict?

Young people: You know he’s serious when he reaches out like that!

Well, as my daughter would say, G2G — TTYL! We’ll pray 4U!

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