“Is it true, what some people say—that young people don’t want to get married, especially during these difficult times?” asked Pope Francis in his latest Pope Video for June 2021.

Each month, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network releases the Holy Father’s prayer intention for that month. This June, we remember the beauty of marriage and pray for engaged couples.

“Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.”

“Getting married and sharing one’s life is something beautiful,” said the Holy Father. “It’s a demanding journey, at times difficult, and at times complicated, but it’s worth making the effort.”

He reminded young people that they are never alone in this beautiful vocation: “And on this life-long journey, the husband and wife aren’t alone; Jesus accompanies them.”

While in some societies, the idea of marriage has become an outdated concept, Pope Francis argues that it’s not just a piece of paper or a social norm to be upheld.

“Marriage isn’t just a ‘social’ act; it’s a vocation that’s born from the heart; it’s a conscious decision for the rest of one’s life that requires specific preparation. Please, never forget this. God has a dream for us—love—and He asks us to make it his own. Let us make our own the love which is God’s dream for us.”