Around 1,000 teens from across the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia met Bishop Paolo Martinelli online on March 17, connecting for a moment of dialogue, prayer, and closeness.

They brought with them the questions of this time — about fear, uncertainty, and how to trust God even when He seems distant, in a time marked by tension and conflict. They had the opportunity to engage directly with the Bishop and he welcomed these questions and sought to guide them to live this moment in the light of faith.

He invited them to enter into a deep experience of prayer, encouraging them to trust that the Lord listens and, above all, responds — even if often in ways different from what we expect. He also encouraged them not to face this moment alone, but to stay connected, to pray together, and to be rooted in God’s love, the true source of peace for our hearts.

Facing both small and great fears, from school concerns to questions about the future of the world, the Bishop encouraged the teens to make good use of this time and to live each moment with the certainty that we are not moving toward an end, but toward the fulfillment of our humanity.

The meeting was marked by a spirit of familiarity and openness, with moments of interaction, prayer, and even a touch of joy: at the request of the teens, Bishop Paolo picked up his guitar, while the screen filled with hearts and applause.

Together, they prayed the words: “Deliver us from evil” and “Thy will be done.” He also entrusted to them a prayer of protection, “We fly to Thy protection,” inviting them to place themselves under the care of the Virgin Mary.

This moment was made possible through the collaboration of several offices of the Vicariate — the Family Ministry, the Office of Christian Formation, the Vocational Team, the Office of Care, and the Office of Communications.

Their work, together with the dedication of those who serve the life of the Church every day, is a sign of how the Church is close to young people: a presence that cares, accompanies, and walks with them and is committed to supporting them in their journey.