Young people are threatened... by the evil use of advertising

In the age of temptation and distraction, Pope John Paul II warns of a great peril facing the youth when he declares, “Young people are threatened… by the evil use of advertising techniques that stimulate the natural inclination to avoid hard work by promising the immediate satisfaction of every desire.” These words strike like a bell of warning across generations. They reveal that the danger is not merely external, but rooted deep within the human heart — a battle between effort and ease, between discipline and indulgence.

The natural inclination to avoid hard work has always existed, for within every soul lies the yearning for comfort and the escape from struggle. In ancient times, this weakness was tempered by necessity and community. But now, in the modern age, it is stimulated and magnified by powerful forces. Through alluring images and persuasive words, advertising techniques whisper false promises, offering joy without effort and fulfillment without sacrifice. These illusions lead the young into chains unseen, binding their spirits with desires that can never be fully satisfied.

The promise of immediate satisfaction is the most dangerous snare of all. It teaches the youth to grasp at shadows rather than build lasting strength. True happiness, as the sages have always taught, comes not from indulging every desire, but from the steady growth that arises through toil, patience, and self-mastery. When this path is abandoned, the heart grows restless, and the soul becomes captive to endless craving.

The origin of this struggle is as old as humanity. From the marketplaces of ancient cities to the glowing screens of the modern world, rulers and merchants alike have sought to shape the will of the people through spectacle and persuasion. In times past, stories and songs were used to inspire virtue; now, these same tools are twisted toward greed and manipulation. Pope John Paul II’s words are a call to awaken — to see through the illusion and reclaim the power of choice.

Thus, let this teaching endure for generations: guard the hearts of the young people, for they are the builders of tomorrow. Resist the evil use of advertising, and do not trade the slow and noble path of hard work for the fleeting mirage of easy pleasure. For only through discipline and courage can one find true freedom — a freedom that no deceiver, however cunning, can ever take away.