Christianity is about doing more than good works, said Campolo, who exhorted the students to focus on their interior lives as well. God will always walk with us, but it is up to each person to let the Spirit transform us from within, he explained.

For that transformation to occur, students should spend time in silent prayer, not asking for God to do something, but waiting in silence for him to move. "So often our prayers are like my son when he was just seven years old, coming into the living room and saying, 'I'm going to bed. I'm going to be praying. Anybody want anything?' "

"When was the last time you waited 10 minutes for Christ to invade you," Campolo asked. "No, I'm serious. When was the last time - in silence, in quietness, in stillness - you waited for the Spirit to invade you, to saturate you, to fill you up, to explode in you?

"Isn't that what you want? " Campolo pressed. "Don't you want more than a set of propositional truths?"

The Holy Father said: "In the ecumenical spirit of recent times, we have begun to have contacts with each other after centuries of isolation.

"Since it is Christ himself who calls us to seek Christian unity, it is entirely right and fitting that Mennonites and Catholics have entered into dialogue in order to understand the reasons for the conflict that arose between us in the 16th century. To understand is to take the first step towards healing."

"Mennonites are well known for their strong Christian witness to peace in the name of the Gospel, and here, despite centuries of division, the dialogue report 'Called Together to be Peacemakers' has shown that we hold many convictions in common," affirmed the Pontiff.

He added: "We both emphasize that our work for peace is rooted in Jesus Christ 'who is our peace, who has made us both one making peace that he might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross.'

The Holy Father concluded, "It is my hope that your visit will be another step towards mutual understanding and reconciliation."

Hartline is the author of the recent book "The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism," published by Catholic Report.

We also see vibrant parishes involved in Scripture study, catechism courses, apologetics, Eucharist adoration, rosary devotions, as well as programs to assist those in need. This is the springtime of evangelization that John Paul II spoke of some years ago. Because of these efforts, we are seeing many converts embrace the Church.

Often, converts approach me at the various talks I give and say three things kept them from Catholicism; the Eucharist, Mary and the papacy. When I asked what brought them into the Church they basically give the same answer, the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother and the Holy Father, or the magisterium.

Additionally, the importance of the election of John Paul II cannot be understated. His strong leadership with emphasis on Church orthodoxy and Eucharistic and Marian devotions laid the groundwork for many, especially the young, to embrace these important gifts.

The outpouring of love shown to John Paul II through the 5 to 7 million who came to Rome, about one quarter of whom were under 25, gave the world a view of the Church that had been scarcely seen in the world press. The beautiful liturgy, the ancient customs such as the transfer of the body of the pontiff to St. Peter's, accompanied by the chanting of the litany of the saints, provided the world with a powerful image of the ancient Church.