Young people need the Cross and Him Crucified not entertainment with a pop concert in St Peter's Square

Mr. Rain's Pop Concert in St. Peter's Square: Is This the Way to Attract Young People?

On July 31, in the midst of the Jubilee of Youth celebrations in Rome, Italian singer Mr. Rain performed his well-known song "Supereroi" in St. Peter's Square, accompanied by an orchestral ensemble and a youth choir. The performance, widely reported on social media and in Italian media, was organized as part of the Jubilee event's cultural program. Mr. Rain, whose real name is Mattia Balardi, is known for his introspective songs that have enjoyed great commercial success in Italy, especially after their performance at the Sanremo Festival. The choice to include a pop artist in the context of the Jubilee is not new. On other occasions, efforts have been made to build bridges between the Church and contemporary culture through the presence of media figures in religious contexts. However, the gesture once again raises a fundamental question: is this the most authentic way to speak to young people?

Many of those who participate in the Jubilee are not looking for a watered-down version of what they already encounter every day. They come to Rome precisely to find something different: a word of truth, an experience of faith, a confrontation with the Mystery. The Church has something unique to offer, something that cannot be bought or consumed: the meaning of life, the value of suffering, the redemption from sin, the victory over death.

The risk of presenting an "adapted" Church, one that seeks acceptance in the dominant culture, is that it ends up diluting its message in what already abounds outside of it. The world offers spectacle, emotional sensitivity, entertainment, aesthetics. But it does not offer Christ. And this is precisely what the Church is called to proclaim with courage, without disguises or concessions.

Fortunately, the Jubilee for Young People is not limited to media visibility activities. These days, thousands of young people are also participating in moments of Eucharistic adoration, confessions, catechesis on vocation and the meaning of life, processions, and silent vigils at St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls. These are the events that truly respond to the deepest longing of those seeking God: not a cultural wink, but an open door to transcendence.

If the Church wants to speak to the hearts of young people, she must have the audacity to show them the Cross, not just a pleasant aesthetic. They are not asking for a Church that entertains them, but a Church that gives them reasons to live—and, if necessary, to die.

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