World Youth Day USA Guides Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 21

but their families and friends and anyone in

alignment of life with Christ. Pope Francis

the community praying for and connected

warns that we cannot truly know the

with the stateside and international pilgrims).

“person’s situation” before God from

Furthermore, the leader is not accompanying

“without.”18 This means that a compassionate

pilgrims by him or herself. Jesus Christ, fellow

listener can challenge another person to

pilgrims, the pope, and others encountered

greater spiritual growth. Pope Francis says

along the way are also accompanying them.

that the “The Gospel tells us to correct others

Added to this, the leader is one who is also on

and to help them grow on the basis of a

the journey with others in the group and

recognition of the objective evil of their

witnesses a relationship with God. Leaders

actions (cf. Mt 18:15), but without making

themselves are pilgrims.

judgments about their responsibility and
culpability (cf. Mt 7:1; Lk 6:37).”19

As Pope Francis said, “Although it sounds
obvious, spiritual accompaniment must lead

The leader can keep this very careful balance

others ever closer to God, in whom we attain

through personal recognition of one’s own

true freedom.”16 Pope Francis in his apostolic

sinfulness and need for growth in life in

exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, teaches that

Christ. Everyone is in need of the mercy and

good spiritual accompaniment includes what

love of God; a profound awareness of this

might be called growth-inducing acceptance

fact should be an important and meaningful

and evangelizing service.17

experience during a pilgrimage.

Acceptance and Challenge

All who experience the stateside World

None of us is completely or fully-grown in

Youth Days will come with their own

our relationship with Jesus Christ and our

struggles, sinfulness, and personal frustrations.

neighbor. We are all in need of on-going

Sometimes it is openly shared, and sometimes

growth, but often we need others we trust to

not. Good leaders recognize this and can

show us some of the things we need to work

accompany these young people through

on. The pilgrim leader can offer acceptance of

their presence, invitation, and encouragement

another person, but in a way that challenges

that can lead pilgrims to a greater alignment

that person to a deeper relationship and

with the Gospel.

16
17

Evangelii Gaudium, 170.
Cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 171-173.

18
19

19

Evangelii Gaudium, 172.
Ibid.