Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – On the tenth anniversary of Scholas Occurrentes’ global launch, Pope Francis engaged in dialogue with the young members of the international educational movement in Puerto Vallarta. This meeting, held on Thursday in the Aula Magna of the Vatican-based Augustinianum Patristic Institute, also included youth from Argentina, Spain, Colombia, and the United States.
Close to 400 secondary and high school students, who have been active in addressing social issues in Puerto Vallarta and Tlajomulco de Zúñiga through the Scholas Ciudadanía program, participated in this virtual meeting.
They were joined by Secretary of the Social Assistance System Alberto Esquer, Secretary of Education Juan Carlos Flores Miramontes, and Tlajomulco de Zúñiga’s Mayor Salvador Zamora.
Five globally significant issues were highlighted during the event, each relating to the realms of Politics, Culture, Environment, Purpose, and Encounter, with each country focusing on a different theme. Octavio de Jesús Magaña Ruiz, a student from Puerto Vallarta, represented the young Mexicans and Jalisco. He raised concerns about child abuse and inadequate education in schools to Pope Francis, inquiring if these were part of the educational pact the Pope often mentions.
Pope Francis affirmed that addressing these issues is indeed central to the educational pact. He expressed worry for the children who either lack access to education or receive incomplete education. The Pope underlined the importance of a holistic educational experience for children, calling it a duty of parents and society as a whole. He also pointed out the dangers of commercializing love, often resulting from inadequate sexual education, and identified pornography as a stark manifestation of this problem.
As the ceremony concluded, Alberto Esquer Gutiérrez, head of the SSAS, urged the youngsters to be agents of the much-needed change in their communities. He promised to continue the efforts, mentioning a forthcoming meeting in Vallarta for outlining future strategies. He further assured the attendees that they would respond to many of their concerns presented in the event.
Salvador Zamora, Mayor of Tlajomulco, reaffirmed his commitment to crafting public policies to improve current living conditions, reflecting the sentiments expressed in the murals created during the event. He declared that various institutions, including the Youth Alternative Institute, the Community Construction coordination, the state DIF, and the Secretary of Social Assistance in the state government, would collaborate to ensure the ongoing presence of Scholas in Tlajomulco and Jalisco.
Finally, María del Carmen Bayardo Solórzano, General Director of Strategic Projects of SSAS, urged the students to maintain regular contact with the volunteers who accompanied them at each meeting. This ongoing communication will ensure the advancement of their proposals and fulfillment of their commitments.
Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - On the tenth anniversary of Scholas Occurrentes' global launch, Pope Francis engaged in dialogue with the young members of the international educational movement in Puerto Vallarta. This meeting, held on Thursday in the Aula Magna of the Vatican-based Augustinianum Patristic Institute, also included youth from Argentina, Spain, Colombia, and the United States.
Close to 400 secondary and high school students, who have been active in addressing social issues in Puerto Vallarta and Tlajomulco de Zúñiga through the Scholas Ciudadanía program, participated in this virtual meeting.
