teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other. The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life.” 14
A stateside leader is not simply an organizer, but one who spiritually accompanies a community. Furthermore, the leader is not accompanying pilgrims by him or herself. Jesus Christ, fellow pilgrims, the local bishop or pastor, and others encountered along the way are also accompanying them. Added to this, the leader is also on the journey; leaders themselves are pilgrims.
As Pope Francis said,“ Although it sounds obvious, spiritual accompaniment must lead others ever closer to God, in whom we attain true freedom.” 15 Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, teaches that good spiritual accompaniment includes what might be called growth-inducing acceptance and evangelizing service. 16
Acceptance and Challenge None of us is completely mature in our relationship with Jesus Christ and our neighbor. We are all in need of growth, but often we need others to show us what we need to work on. The pilgrim leader offers acceptance of another person in a way that may sometimes challenge that person to a deeper relationship and alignment with Christ. Pope Francis warns that we cannot truly know the“ person’ s situation” before God from“ without.” 17 God alone knows the person’ s heart. But a leader does know some things about choices and behaviors. Pope Francis says that the“ The Gospel tells us to correct others and to help them grow on the basis of a recognition of the objective evil of their actions( cf. Mt 18:15), but without making judgments about their responsibility and culpability( cf. Mt 7:1; Lk 6:37).” 18
The stateside leader can keep this very careful balance through recognition of his or her own sinfulness and need for mercy. Everyone needs God’ s love and mercy; a profound awareness of this fact should be an important aspect of a pilgrimage.
Everyone who attends the stateside WYDs will come with their own struggles, sinfulness, and personal frustrations. Sometimes these may be shared, and sometimes not. Good leaders recognize and accompany these young
14 Evangelii Gaudium, 169.
15 Evangelii Gaudium, 170.
16 Cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 171-173.
17
17 Evangelii Gaudium, 172.
18 Ibid.