God Is Young

This conversation between Italian journalist and writer Thomas Leoncini and Pope Francis was conducted in connection with the Catholic Church's Year of Youth, which began on Palm Sunday this year. The title refers to a passage from the Book of Revelation, "Behold, I make all things new," which Pope Francis interprets as meaning that God is ever young. The premise is that young people are made in God's image even when treated as castoffs in a society based on consumerism from which they need to be liberated. The pope advocates a "sweet revolution" uniting believers of all ages in remaking the world. In addition to a focus on the debilitating effects of excessive consumption and a "culture of discarding," concepts covered include concern for the environment and its impact on future generations, "post-truth" and fake news, and perceiving foreigners as evil. Francis cites what he terms dangerous "diseases" plaguing contemporary society, such as "spiritual Alzheimer's," "existential schizophrenia," and deification of leaders.