3. Confrontation and dialogue among different generations

3.1 - Regarding interaction with the preceding generations (or with superiors and formators) one has to say that there was an exchange of views. In fact the interventions of the young people were addressed primarily to superiors (and secondly to formators) and less to the young people themselves. For their part, the speakers as well as the superiors who were present, spoke to the young people and only in part touched on the critical point of the institutional limitations in animating and guiding the consecrated life.

3.2 - In fact, these young people allowed themselves to be questioned and they in turn too asked rather pertinent questions and made precise statements about their relationship with the institution or their elder brothers/sisters. For example, the following statement was repeated so often it resounded like a chorus: "You tell us that we are the future of the consecrated life, but you do not always involve us in its present". Others decide for the young people and thus they feel that at present they are mere spectators, unable to do anything about the future.

3.3 - This in no way means that the young people do not believe in the worth of the previous generations. "We believe in the wisdom of our elder brothers/sisters", they said more than once and often expressed gratitude, serenity, realism and common sense in this regard. On the other hand they ask for dialogue with superiors and their elder brothers/sisters and they admit that they need their trust and encouragement. They feel their enthusiasm is dampened by the fears of institutional authorities. They state in clear terms that they do not intend to be "photocopies of the past!".

3.4 - There is the problem of the young people who live alone in communities of elderly religious. "When there is only one young person with no opportunity for any outlet or openness, it is not easy. I am concerned about a closed up congregation with different and often irreconcilable mentalities51. It is above all for these young men and women religious who live alone that the Congress has meant a great shot of trust and hope, allowing them to see the usefulness of fostering meetings for juniors and even inter-congregational studies. As one participant put it: "I hope to meet soon with another junior to tell her all my news and share with her those fruits which we are waiting for. Young people from different institutes should attend schools together"

Left on their own, young people can become closed and fearful, but together they find courage and dare to take risks.