Pope Francis' recent visit to Greece culminated in him encouraging the country's youth to follow their dreams and not to be swayed by consumerist "sirens" that promise short-term gain.
Francis met with the pupils of a Catholic school in Athens for the final event of a five-day visit to Greece and Cyprus. During his time there, he raised awareness of the struggle of migrants and refugees seeking entry into Europe.
The Pope encouraged attendees to sharpen their faith and resist materialistic goals by referencing Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey. He likened the temptation that young people face to the sirens who "enchanted sailors and made them crash against the rocks," according to ABC News.
"Today’s sirens want to charm you with seductive and insistent messages that focus on easy gains, the false needs of consumerism, the cult of physical wellness, of entertainment at all costs," he asserted. "All these are like fireworks: they flare up for a moment, but then turn to smoke in the air."
He also encouraged students to limit their use of social media and not become "prisoners of the cell phone", adding that "many people today are constantly using social media, but are not themselves very social."
"What appears on the screen is not the reality of other persons: Their eyes, their breath, and their hands. The screen can easily become a mirror, where you think you are looking at the world, but in reality, you are all alone before a virtual world full of appearances, of photos dressed up to look always beautiful and acceptable," he continued, per the National Catholic Register.
"Yet how beautiful it is simply to be together with other people, to discover the newness of others! Cultivate the mystique of togetherness, the joy of sharing, the enthusiasm of serving!"
The pope greeted two immigrant students during his trip, including 18-year-old Syrian refugee, Aboud Gabro, who spoke about how he and his family were forced to flee Aleppo in 2014 after a bomb exploded on their home. Francis, 84, said that his story was "a true modern-day odyssey" and stated that he was glad to hear that his family made it to safety after a dangerous boat crossing from Turkey.
"[After] so many refusals and a thousand difficulties, you landed in this country," he said.
"The meaning of life is not found by staying on the beach waiting for the wind to bring something new. Salvation lies in the open sea, in setting sail, in the quest, in the pursuit of dreams, real dreams, those we pursue with eyes open, those that involve effort, struggles, headwinds, sudden storms," he added. "So don’t be paralyzed by fear: dream big! And dream together!"
