Travels World To Help Youth

Press, Issue 30997, 1 March 1966, Page 18

Travels World To Help Youth

The needs and problems of the world’s youth are the concern of Cardinal Cardijn Joseph who arrived in Christchurch from Melbourne last evening.

Cardinal Cardijn is the founder of the World-Wide Young Christian Workers’ Movement, which is effective in 114 countries and in which more than six mi'llion persons take part. Cardinal Cardijn, who was born in Belgium, said last evening: “I am a young boy of 83, and I travel around the world to see what the needs of young people are, and to help them.”. He had just been on a tour of Ceylon, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia after attending an international conference in Bangkok. He was first in New Zealand in 1958.

Cardinal Cardijn said the world today was international. There were no separate countries. He travelled to see

What could be done by the priest and the layman. It was his wish that Christians might see through problems in a Christian way. Christianity was essential in the work of the movement.

The young must learn to become more preoccupied with others. They must be-

come apprentices and then leaders who would in turn influence others. One of the great problems for youth today was what to do with leisure, said Cardinal Cardijn. He wondered if youth understood the value of more and more leisure, which should not only be used for pleasure but also be educative so young people could have experience and responsibility. They must also have respect for each other, Whether rich or poor. Cardinal Cardijn said some thought that problems could only be solved with violence. He said there must be no hate or violence, but love and kindness.

Today Cardinal Cardijn will meet members of the Catholic Youth Movement. He will go to Auckland tomorrow.