Societal transformation “often begins with the zeal, enthusiasm and creativity of young people who challenge us to see things in new ways,” a Honduran cardinal told participants at a UN forum Sept. 24.

Young people also often “approach life with great passion and dedication,” Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa said at the event.

“The voices of the young are important. We need to listen to their aspirations and dreams, their struggles and challenges, if we are to help them create an enabling environment for a more inclusive, just and equitable society,” said the cardinal.

Youths between the ages of 15 and 24 comprise one-fifth of the world’s population, he said, and are “an amazing pool of talent we must tap into if we are to eradicate poverty in our lifetimes.”