A Look Back at World Youth Day: Some of the Crowd for Via Crucis

These people are gathered in front of the Stations of the Cross. This is only one side of one street, there are more packed streets including the street the Holy Father will pass in his Pope-mobile. Is it any wonder that some have said the Holy Father was moved to tears by this expression of faith in the heart of Europe?  "If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new."

7 Reasons for Good Cheer After Madrid

 Who cares if the media ignored World Youth Day?

From Mercator

By Michael Cook

Last year at this time the Catholic Church was licking its wounds after its biggest public relations shellacking in many years. Newspaper columnists sneered that the scandal caused by a few priest paedophiles was the beginning of the end. Its followers were so disgusted that they were said to be turning in their membership cards. 

But if that pessimistic reading of the tea leaves was true, how do you explain the presence of two million young people in Madrid over the weekend to listen to an 83-year-old German Pope? They were all aware of the vile actions of a handful of rogue priests but these had not shaken their confidence in the Church or its leader. 

So, if you are a Catholic sympathiser, World Youth Day 2011 gave abundant reasons for hope. Here are 7 of them.

"Quintessentially Unfashionable" Young Catholics - Two Million of Them

"After the storm ceased, the Pope thanked the two million for their ‘joy and resistance’. Then they knelt in the mud before the Blessed Sacrament. That’s the meaning of the Catholic faith"

 

From The Catholic Herald (UK)

By William Oddie

I begin with an email I received this morning from a priest who has just returned from the World Youth Day:

Just back from WYD – amazing joy and colour swamped Madrid. Yet the Pope’s Saturday night attack on Spanish hedonism was stopped by a freak and frightening gale, sand storm, thunder and dramatic lightning.

Pope Benedict's Comments at the WYD Departure Ceremony

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

DEPARTURE CEREMONY 

 

International Airport of Madrid Barajas
Sunday, 21 August 2011

Your Majesties,
Distinguished National, Autonomous Regional and Local Authorities,
Your Eminence the Archbishop of Madrid and President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference,
Your Eminences and Dear Brother Bishops,
Dear Friends,

The time has come for us to say good-bye. These days spent in Madrid, in the company of so many young people from Spain and from throughout the world, will remain deeply etched in my mind and heart.

Your Majesty, the Pope felt at home in Spain! And the young people who were the heart of this World Youth Day found a warm welcome here and in the many cities and towns of the country, which they were able to visit in the days before these celebrations.

I thank Your Majesty for your gracious words and for your presence at my arrival in Spain and now at my departure. I thank the national, autonomous regional and local authorities for the helpfulness and understanding which they showed before this international event. I also thank the thousands of volunteers who ensured the orderly unfolding of the many activities of this meeting: the various literary, musical, cultural and religious events of the Festival joven, the catecheses given by the Bishops and the main events in the presence of the Successor of Peter. I thank the police and security forces, and all those who helped by providing a wide variety of services: from the music and the liturgy to the details of transportation, health care and meals.

Spain is a great nation whose soundly open, pluralistic and respectful society is capable of moving forward without surrendering its profoundly religious and Catholic soul. In these days, it once more made this clear, revealing its technical and human resources in the service of an undertaking of immense consequence and promise: that of helping young people to become more deeply rooted in Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

A particular word of gratitude is due to the organizers of World Youth Day: to the Cardinal President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and all the personnel of that Office, to the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, his Auxiliary Bishops and the whole Archdiocese, and in particular to the General Coordinator, Monsignor César Augusto Franco Martinez, and the many generous members of his staff. The Bishops worked generously and diligently in their Dioceses to prepare for the celebrations, together with their priests, consecrated persons and the lay faithful. To all I express my gratitude and I pray that the Lord will bless your apostolic labors.

Nor can I fail to offer heartfelt thanks to the young people for having come to the World Youth Day and for their joyful, enthusiastic and intense presence. To them I say thank you, and I congratulate you for the witness which you gave in Madrid and in the other cities of Spain in which you stayed. Now I ask you to spread throughout the world the profound and joyful experience of faith which you had here in this noble country. Share your joy especially with those who would have liked to come but were unable to do so for various reasons, with all those who were praying for you and with all those whose hearts were touched by these celebrations. By your closeness and your witness, help your friends to discover that loving Christ means living life to the full.

I leave Spain very happy and grateful to everyone. But above all I am grateful to God, our Lord, who allowed me to celebrate these days so filled with enthusiasm and grace, so charged with dynamism and hope. The feast of faith which we have shared enables us to look forward with great confidence in Providence, which guides the Church across the seas of history. That is why she continues to be young and full of life, even as she confronts challenging situations. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, who makes Jesus Christ present in the hearts of young people in every age and shows them the grandeur of the divine vocation given to every man and woman. We were also able to see how the grace of Christ tears down the walls and overcomes the barriers which sin erects between peoples and generations, in order to make all mankind a single family which acknowledges its one Father and which cultivates, by work and respect, all that he has given us in creation.

Young people readily respond when one proposes to them, in sincerity and truth, an encounter with Jesus Christ, the one Redeemer of humanity.  Now those young people are returning home as missionaries of the Gospel, “rooted and built up in Christ, and firm in the faith”, and they will need to be helped on their way.  So I urge Bishops, priests, Religious and Christian educators in particular, to care for those young people who want to respond enthusiastically to the Lord’s call.  There is no reason to lose heart in the face of the various obstacles we encounter in some countries.  The yearning for God which the Creator has placed in the hearts of young people is more powerful than all of these, as is the power from on high which gives divine strength to those who follow the Master and who seek in him nourishment for life.  Do not be afraid to present to young people the message of Jesus Christ in all its integrity, and to invite them to celebrate the sacraments by which he gives us a share in his own life.

Your Majesty, before returning to Rome, I would like to assure the people of Spain of my constant prayers, especially for married couples and families who are facing various kinds of difficulties, the needy and the infirm, the elderly and children, as well as those who have no work. I pray in particular of the young people of Spain. I am sure that they will contribute the best they have to offer through their faith in Christ, so that this great country can face the challenges of the present hour and can continue along the paths of peace, solidarity, justice and freedom. Along with these intentions, I entrust the sons and daughters of this noble land to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, our heavenly Mother, and to them all I willingly impart my blessing. May the joy of the Lord always fill your hearts. Thank you.

World Youth Day Angelus

BENEDICT XVI

ANGELUS

 

Cuatro Vientos Air Base, Madrid
Sunday, 21 August 2011

Dear Friends,

You are now about to go back home.  Your friends will want to know how you have changed after being in this lovely city with the Pope and with hundreds of thousands of other young people from around the world.  What are you going to tell them?  I invite you to give a bold witness of Christian living to them.  In this way you will give birth to new Christians and will help the Church grow strongly in the hearts of many others.  

During these days, how often I have thought of the young people at home who are waiting for your return!  Take my affectionate greetings to them, to those less fortunate, to your families and to the Christian communities that you come from.  

Let me also express my gratitude to the Bishops and priests who are present in such great numbers at this Day.  To them all I extend my deepest thanks, encouraging them to continue to work pastorally among young people with enthusiasm and dedication.

[Spanish] I greet the Archbishop of the Forces affectionately and I warmly thank the Spanish Air Force, which very generously permitted Cuatro Vientos Air Base on this, the centenary of the foundation of the Spanish Air Force.  I place all Spanish Air Force personnel and their families under the maternal protection of Our Lady of Loreto. 

In this context, I recall that yesterday marked the third anniversary of the grave accident at Barajas Airport which caused many deaths and injuries, and I express my spiritual closeness and my deep affection for all those touched by that unfortunate event, and well as for the families of the victims, whose souls we commend to the mercy of God.

I am pleased now to announce that the next World Youth Day will be held in 2013, in Rio de Janeiro.  Even now, let us ask the Lord to assist all those who will organize it, and to ease the journey there of young people from all over the world, so that they will be able to join me in that beautiful city of Brazil.  

Dear friends, before we say good-bye, and while the young people of Spain pass on the World Youth Day cross to the young people of Brazil, as Successor of Peter I entrust all of you present with this task: make the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ known to the whole world!  He wants you to be the apostles of the twenty-first century and the messengers of his joy.  Do not let him down!  Thank you very much.

[French] My dear young people of the French-speaking world, today Christ asks you to be rooted in him and with him, to build your lives upon him who is our rock.  He sends you out to be his witnesses, courageous and without anxiety, authentic and credible!  Do not be afraid to be Catholic, and to be witnesses to those around you in simplicity and sincerity!  Let the Church find in you and in your youthfulness joyful missionaries of the Good News of salvation!  

[English] I greet all the English-speaking young people present here today!  As you return home, take back with you the good news of Christ’s love which we have experienced in these unforgettable days.  Fix your eyes upon him, deepen your knowledge of the Gospel and bring forth abundant fruit!  God bless all of you until we meet again!

[German] My dear friends!  Faith is not a theory.  To believe is to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus and to live in friendship with him in fellowship with others, in the communion of the Church.  Entrust the whole of your lives to Christ and bring your friends to find their way to the source of life, to God.  May the Lord make you happy and joy-filled witnesses of his love.  

[Italian] My dear young Italians!  Greetings to all of you.  The Eucharist that we have celebrated is the risen Christ present and living in our midst: through him, your lives are rooted and built upon Christ, strong in faith.  With this confidence, depart from Madrid and tell everyone what you have seen and heard.  Respond with joy to the Lord’s call, follow him and remain always united to him:  you will bear much fruit! 

[Portuguese] Dear Portuguese-speaking young people and friends, you have met Jesus Christ! You will be swimming against the tide in a society with a relativistic culture which wishes neither to seek nor hold on to the truth.  But it was for this moment in history, with its great challenges and opportunities, that the Lord sent you, so that, through your faith, the Good News of Jesus might continue to resound throughout the earth.  I hope to see you again in two years’ time at the nest World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Till then, let us pray for each other, witnessing to the joy that brings forth life, rooted in and built upon Christ.  Until we meet again, my dear young people!  God bless you all!  

[Polish] Dear young Poles, strong in the faith, rooted in Christ!  May the gifts you have received from God during these days bear in you abundant fruit.  Be his witnesses.  Take to others the message of the Gospel.  With your prayers and example of life, help Europe to rediscover its Christian roots.  

Pope Benedict Addresses Seminarians, Announces St. John of Avila to be a Doctor of the Universal Church

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI 

Mass with Seminarians

Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena, Madrid
Saturday, 20 August 2011

Your Eminence the Archbishop of Madrid,
Dear Brother Bishops,
Dear Priests and Religious,
Dear Rectors and Formators,
Dear Seminarians,
Dear Friends,

I am very pleased to celebrate Holy Mass with you who aspire to be Christ’s priests for the service of the Church and of man, and I thank you for the kind words with which you welcomed me. Today, this holy cathedral church of Santa María La Real de la Almudena is like a great Upper Room, where the Lord greatly desires to celebrate the Passover with you who wish one day to preside in his name at the mysteries of salvation. Looking at you, I again see proof of how Christ continues to call young disciples and to make them his apostles, thus keeping alive the mission of the Church and the offer of the Gospel to the world. As seminarians you are on the path towards a sacred goal: to continue the mission which Christ received from the Father. Called by him, you have followed his voice and, attracted by his loving gaze, you now advance towards the sacred ministry. Fix your eyes upon him who through his incarnation is the supreme revelation of God to the world and who through his resurrection faithfully fulfills his promise. Give thanks to him for this sign of favour in which he holds each one of you.

The first reading which we heard shows us Christ as the new and eternal priest who made of himself a perfect offering. The response to the psalm may be aptly applied to him since, at his coming into the world, he said to the Father, “Here I am to do your will” (cf. Ps 39:8). He tried to please him in all things: in his words and actions, along the way or welcoming sinners. His life was one of service and his longing was a constant prayer, placing himself in the name of all before the Father as the first-born son of many brothers and sisters. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews states that, by a single offering, he brought to perfection for all time those of us who are called to share his sonship (cf. Heb 10:14).

The Eucharist, whose institution is mentioned in the Gospel just proclaimed (cf. Lk 22:14-20), is the real expression of that unconditional offering of Jesus for all, even for those who betrayed him. It was the offering of his body and blood for the life of mankind and for the forgiveness of sins. His blood, a sign of life, was given to us by God as a covenant, so that we might apply the force of his life wherever death reigns due to our sins, and thus destroy it. Christ’s body broken and his blood outpoured – the surrender of his freedom – became through these Eucharistic signs the new source of mankind’s redeemed freedom. In Christ, we have the promise of definitive redemption and the certain hope of future blessings. Through Christ we know that we are not walking towards the abyss, the silence of nothingness or death, but are rather pilgrims on the way to a promised land, on the way to him who is our end and our beginning.

Dear friends, you are preparing yourselves to become apostles with Christ and like Christ, and to accompany your fellow men and women along their journey as companions and servants.

How should you behave during these years of preparation? First of all, they should be years of interior silence, of unceasing prayer, of constant study and of gradual insertion into the pastoral activity and structures of the Church. A Church which is community and institution, family and mission, the creation of Christ through his Holy Spirit, as well as the result of those of us who shape it through our holiness and our sins. God, who does not hesitate to make of the poor and of sinners his friends and instruments for the redemption of the human race, willed it so. The holiness of the Church is above all the objective holiness of the very person of Christ, of his Gospel and his sacraments, the holiness of that power from on high which enlivens and impels it. We have to be saints so as not to create a contradiction between the sign that we are and the reality that we wish to signify.

Meditate well upon this mystery of the Church, living the years of your formation in deep joy, humbly, clear-mindedly and with radical fidelity to the Gospel, in an affectionate relation to the time spent and the people among whom you live. No one chooses the place or the people to whom he is sent, and every time has its own challenges; but in every age God gives the right grace to face and overcome those challenges with love and realism. That is why, no matter the circumstances in which he finds and however difficult they may be, the priest must grow in all kinds of good works, keeping alive within him the words spoken on his Ordination day, by which he was exhorted to model his life on the mystery of the Lord’s cross.

To be modeled on Christ, dear seminarians, is to be identified ever more closely with him who, for our sake, became servant, priest and victim. To be modeled on him is in fact the task upon which the priest spends his entire life. We already know that it is beyond us and we will not fully succeed but, as St Paul says, we run towards the goal, hoping to reach it (cf. Phil 3:12-14).

That said, Christ the High Priest is also the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep, even giving his life for them (cf. Jn 10:11). In order to liken yourselves to the Lord in this as well, your heart must mature while in seminary, remaining completely open to the Master. This openness, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit, inspires the decision to live in celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and, leaving aside the world’s goods, live in austerity of life and sincere obedience, without pretence. 

 

Ask him to let you imitate him in his perfect charity towards all, so that you do not shun the excluded and sinners, but help them convert and return to the right path. Ask him to teach you how to be close to the sick and the poor in simplicity and generosity. Face this challenge without anxiety or mediocrity, but rather as a beautiful way of living our human life in gratuitousness and service, as witnesses of God made man, messengers of the supreme dignity of the human person and therefore its unconditional defenders. Relying on his love, do not be intimidated by surroundings that would exclude God and in which power, wealth and pleasure are frequently the main criteria ruling people’s lives. You may be shunned along with others who propose higher goals or who unmask the false gods before whom many now bow down. That will be the moment when a life deeply rooted in Christ will clearly be seen as something new and it will powerfully attract those who truly search for God, truth and justice.

Under the guidance of your formators, open your hearts to the light of the Lord, to see if this path which demands courage and authenticity is for you. Approach the priesthood only if you are firmly convinced that God is calling you to be his ministers, and if you are completely determined to exercise it in obedience to the Church’s precepts.

With this confidence, learn from him who described himself as meek and humble of heart, leaving behind all earthly desire for his sake so that, rather than pursuing your own good, you build up your brothers and sisters by the way you live, as did the patron saint of the diocesan clergy of Spain, St John of Avila. Moved by his example, look above all to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests. She will know how to mould your hearts according to the model of Christ, her divine Son, and she will teach you how to treasure for ever all that he gained on Calvary for the salvation of the world. Amen.

---

Announcement of the Holy Father

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With great joy, here in this Cathedral Church of Santa María La Real de la Almudena, I announce to the People of God that, having acceded to the desire expressed by Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Spain, together with the members of the Spanish episcopate and other Archbishops and Bishops from throughout the world, as well as many of the lay faithful, I will shortly declare Saint John of Avila a Doctor of the universal Church.

In making this announcement here, I would hope that the word and the example of this outstanding pastor will enlighten all priests and those who look forward to the day of their priestly ordination. 

I invite everyone to look to Saint John of Avila and I commend to his intercession the Bishops of Spain and those of the whole world, as well as all priests and seminarians. As they persevere in the same faith which he taught, may they model their hearts on that of Jesus Christ the good Shepherd, to whom be glory and honour for ever. Amen.

WYD Participants--Evangelical, Conservative--Represent Church's Future

From Catholic World News

The success of World Youth Day reflects the vigor of “Evangelical Catholicism,” writes John Allen in a revealing analysis for the National Catholic Reporter. 

Allen concedes that the phenomenon he calls “Evangelical Catholicism” might be described by many others as simply “conservative” Catholicism. But he argues, quite reasonably, that “conservative” is not an accurate term, “because there’s precious little cultural Catholicism these days left to conserve.” 

Evangelical Catholicism, Allen says, is characterized by:

• A strong defense of traditional Catholic identity, meaning attachment to classic markers of Catholic thought (doctrinal orthodoxy) and Catholic practice (liturgical tradition, devotional life, and authority).

• Robust public proclamation of Catholic teaching, with the accent on Catholicism’s mission ad extra, transforming the culture in light of the Gospel, rather than ad intra, on internal church reform.

• Robust public proclamation of Catholic teaching, with the accent on Catholicism’s mission ad extra, transforming the culture in light of the Gospel, rather than ad intra, on internal church reform.

This approach to the faith is shared by most of the active participants at World Youth Day, Allen argues—although he makes some interesting distinctions about the different sorts of young people who gather for the events. 

(By the way, Allen notes that World Youth Day celebrations have now drawn more than 15 million participants, making WYD the “largest regularly held international religious event on the planet.”)

Whether they are described as “evangelical” or “conservative,” Allen has no doubt that the young people at WYD celebrations represent the future of the Church. He writes:

Once upon a time, the idea that the younger generation of intensely committed Catholics was more “conservative” belonged to the realm of anecdotal impressions. By now, it’s an iron-clad empirical certainty.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Big Picture at World Youth Day: 'It’s the Evangelicals, stupid!' (National Catholic Reporter)

Pope Benedict's Opening Message for World Youth Day

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

Opening Message of the 26th World Youth Day

Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid
Thursday, 18 August 2011 

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the kind words addressed to me by the young people representing the five continents. And I salute with affection all of you gathered here, young people from Oceania, Africa, America, Asia and Europe; and also those unable to be here. I always keep you very much in my heart and pray for you. God has given me the grace to see and hear you for myself and, as we gather together, to listen to his word.

In the reading which has just been proclaimed, we heard a passage from the Gospel which talks of welcoming the words of Jesus and putting them into practice. There are words which serve only to amuse, as fleeting as an empty breeze; others, to an extent, inform us; those of Jesus, on the other hand, must reach our hearts, take root and bloom there all our lives. If not, they remain empty and become ephemeral. They do not bring us to him and, as a result, Christ stays remote, just one voice among the many others around us which are so familiar. Furthermore, the Master who speaks teaches, not something learned from others, but that which he himself is, the only one who truly knows the path of man towards God, because he is the one who opened it up for us, he made it so that we might have authentic lives, lives which are always worth living, in every circumstance, and which not even death can destroy. The Gospel continues, explaining these things with the evocative image of someone who builds on solid rock, resistant to the onslaught of adversity, and in contrast to someone who builds on sand - we would say today in what appears a paradise - but which collapses with the first gust of wind and falls into ruins.

Dear young people, listen closely to the words of the Lord, that they may be for you “spirit and life” (Jn 6:63), roots which nourish your being, a rule of life which likens us - poor in spirit, thirsting for justice, merciful, pure in heart, lovers of peace - to the person of Christ. Listen regularly every day as if he were the one friend who does not deceive, the one with whom we wish to share the path of life. Of course, you know that when we do not walk beside Christ our guide, we get lost on other paths, like the path of our blind and selfish impulses, or the path of flattering but self-serving suggestions, deceiving and fickle, which leave emptiness and frustration in their wake.

Use these days to know Christ better and to make sure that, rooted in him, your enthusiasm and happiness, your desire to go further, to reach the heights, even God himself, always hold a sure future, because the fullness of life has already been placed within you. Let that life grow with divine grace, generously and without half-measures, as you remain steadfast in your aim for holiness. And, in the face of our weaknesses which sometimes overwhelm us, we can rely on the mercy of the Lord who is always ready to help us again and who offers us pardon in the sacrament of Penance.

If you build on solid rock, not only your life will be solid and stable, but it will also help project the light of Christ shining upon those of your own age and upon the whole of humanity, presenting a valid alternative to all those who have fallen short, because the essentials in their lives were inconsistent; to all those who are content to follow fashionable ideas, they take shelter in the here and now, forgetting true justice, or they take refuge in their own opinions instead of seeking the simple truth.

Indeed, there are many who, creating their own gods, believe they need no roots or foundations other than themselves. They take it upon themselves to decide what is true or not, what is good and evil, what is just and unjust; who should live and who can be sacrificed in the interests of other preferences; leaving each step to chance, with no clear path, letting themselves be led by the whim of each moment. These temptations are always lying in wait. It is important not to give in to them because, in reality, they lead to something so evanescent, like an existence with no horizons, a liberty without God. We, on the other hand, know well that we have been created free, in the image of God, precisely so that we might be in the forefront of the search for truth and goodness, responsible for our actions, not mere blind executives, but creative co-workers in the task of cultivating and beautifying the work of creation. God is looking for a responsible interlocutor, someone who can dialogue with him and love him. Through Christ we can truly succeed and, established in him, we give wings to our freedom. Is this not the great reason for our joy? Isn’t this the firm ground upon which to build the civilization of love and life, capable of humanizing all of us?

Dear friends: be prudent and wise, build your lives upon the firm foundation which is Christ. This wisdom and prudence will guide your steps, nothing will make you fear and peace will reign in your hearts. Then you will be blessed and happy and your happiness will influence others. They will wonder what the secret of your life is and they will discover that the rock which underpins the entire building and upon which rests your whole existence is the very person of Christ, your friend, brother and Lord, the Son of God incarnate, who gives meaning to all the universe.

He died for us all, rising that we might have life, and now, from the throne of the Father, he accompanies all men and women, watching continually over each one of us.

I commend the fruits of this World Youth Day to the most holy Virgin Mary, who said “Yes” to the will of God, and teaches us a unique example of fidelity to her divine son, whom she followed to his death upon the Cross.

Let us meditate upon this more deeply in the Stations of the Cross. And let us pray that, like her, our “Yes” to Christ today may also be an unconditional “Yes” to his friendship, both at the end of this Day and throughout our entire lives.

Thank you very much.

"To Know Christ Personally as a Friend and so, Rooted In His Person, to Become Faithful Followers and Valiant Witnesses."

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

WELCOME CEREMONY

International Airport of Madrid Barajas

Thursday, 18 August 2011

Your Majesties,

Your Eminence the Archbishop of Madrid,

Your Eminences,

Dear Brother Bishops and Priests,

Distinguished National, Autonomous Regional and Local Authorities,

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Madrid and of all Spain,

I am grateful to Your Majesty for your presence together with the Queen, and for the kind and deferential words with which you welcomed me, reviving in me the unforgettable gestures of kindness which I received during my previous Apostolic Journeys to Spain, and most particularly during my recent Visit to Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona. I greet very cordially those of you gathered here at Barajas and those of you following this event on radio and television. A very grateful greeting also goes to those who, with such commitment and dedication, from the ecclesiastical and civil spheres, have contributed with their efforts and work so that this World Youth Day in Madrid might unfold well and bring forth abundant fruits.

With all my heart I also wish to recognize the hospitality so many families, parishes, schools and other institutions which have welcomed young people from all over the world, firstly in various regions and cities of Spain, and now in the great cosmopolitan and welcoming city of Madrid.

I have come here to meet thousands of young people from all over the world, Catholics committed to Christ searching for the truth that will give real meaning to their existence. I come as the Successor of Peter, to confirm them all in the faith, with days of intense pastoral activity, proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life; to motivate the commitment to build up the Kingdom of God in the world among us; to exhort young people to know Christ personally as a friend and so, rooted in his person, to become faithful followers and valiant witnesses.

Why has this multitude of young people come to Madrid? While they themselves should give the reply, it may be supposed that they wish to hear the word of God, as the motto for this World Youth Day proposed to them, in such a way that, rooted and built upon Christ, they may manifest the strength of their faith.

Many of them have heard the voice of God, perhaps only as a little whisper, which has led them to search for him more diligently and to share with others the experience of the force which he has in their lives. The discovery of the living God inspires young people and opens their eyes to the challenges of the world in which they live, with its possibilities and limitations. They see the prevailing superficiality, consumerism and hedonism, the widespread banalization of sexuality, the lack of solidarity, the corruption. They know that, without God, it would be hard to confront these challenges and to be truly happy, and thus pouring out their enthusiasm in the attainment of an authentic life. But, with God beside them, they will possess light to walk by and reasons to hope, unrestrained before their highest ideals, which will motivate their generous commitment to build a society where human dignity and true brotherhood are respected. Here on this Day, they have a special opportunity to gather together their aspirations, to share the richness of their cultures and experiences, motivate each other along a journey of faith and life, in which some think they are alone or ignored in their daily existence. But they are not alone. Many people of the same age have the same aspirations and, entrusting themselves completely to Christ, know that they really have a future before them and are not afraid of the decisive commitments which fulfill their entire lives. That is why it gives me great joy to listen to them, pray with them and celebrate the Eucharist with them. World Youth Day brings us a message of hope like a pure and youthful breeze, with rejuvenating scents which fill us with confidence before the future of the Church and the world.

Of course, there is no lack of difficulties. There are tensions and ongoing conflicts all over the world, even to the shedding of blood. Justice and the unique value of the human person are easily surrendered to selfish, material and ideological interests. Nature and the environment, created by God with so much love, are not respected. Moreover, many young people look worriedly to the future, as they search for work, or because they have lost their job or because the one they have is precarious or uncertain. There are others who need help either to avoid drugs or to recover from their use. There are even some who, because of their faith in Christ, suffer discrimination which leads to contempt and persecution, open or hidden, which they endure in various regions and countries. They are harassed to give him up, depriving them of the signs of his presence in public life, not allowing even the mention of his holy name. But, with all my heart, I say again to you young people: let nothing and no one take away your peace; do not be ashamed of the Lord. He did not spare himself in becoming one like us and in experiencing our anguish so as to lift it up to God, and in this way he saved us.

In this regard, the young followers of Jesus must be aided to remain firm in the faith and to embrace the beautiful adventure of proclaiming it and witnessing to it openly with their lives. A witness that is courageous and full of love for their brothers and sisters, resolute and at the same time prudent, without hiding its Christian identity, living together with other legitimate choices in a spirit of respect while at the same time demanding due respect for one’s own choices.

Your Majesty, as I reiterate my thanks for the kind welcome which you gave to me, I in turn wish to express my esteem for and nearness to all the peoples of Spain, as well as my admiration for a country so rich in history and in culture through the vitality of its faith, which has borne fruit in so many saints over the centuries, in numerous men and women who, leaving their native land, brought the Gospel to every corner of the globe, and in people through all this land who act with rectitude, solidarity and goodness. It is a great treasure which should be cared for constructively, for the common good of today and in order to offer a bright horizon to future generations. Although there are currently some reasons for concern, the greatest one is the desire for the betterment of all Spaniards with that dynamism which characterizes them and to which their deep and very fruitful Christian roots have contributed so much down through the centuries.

From this place I send very cordial greetings to you all, dear friends of Spain and Madrid, and those of you from other lands. During these days I will be with you, thinking of all young people in the world, in particular those who are going through various kinds of trial. Entrusting this Meeting to the most holy Virgin Mary, and to the patron saints of this Day, I ask God always to bless and protect the sons and daughters of Spain. Thank you very much.

WYD Pilgrims Engage in Catechesis Sessions

From Vatican Radio

World Youth Day is well underway in Madrid. On Wednesday participants, took part in catechesis sessions at various venues around the city. One of the co-sponsors of the catechesis session for English speaking pilgrims is the Knights of Columbus. Its’ Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson made an intervention at Wednesday’s session and afterwards spoke to Emer McCarthy.

He explained to her that the session involves the themes, love and life, saying “around these two great themes are the discussions and the breakout sessions actually give the pilgrims the opportunity to interact with the speakers”.

The Supreme Knight added that “the new evangelisation depends upon the authentic witness of all Christians, not just the clergy”.

Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive in the Spanish capital Thursday, and will preside at the solemn Mass which concludes World Youth Day on Sunday. Listen to Emer McCarthy's full interview with Carl A. Anderson 

Sister to Leave Convent for the First Time in 84 Years to Meet the Pope

Nun entered convent on same day Pope Benedict XVI was born

She has spent every day of the past 84 years inside the walls of her convent in central Spain.

Now, however, 103-year-old nun Sister Teresita will finally emerge into the outside world on Friday for a very special occasion.

The nun will meet Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the Spanish capital of Madrid to celebrate World Youth Day.

WYD 2011: Madrid Will Never Forget These Scenes of Devotion

Catholics young and old dance in the streets ahead of the Pope’s arrival

From The Catholic Herald (UK)

Madeleine Teahan

Pilgrims fill Madrid's Plaza de Cibeles for the opening Mass of World Youth Day (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Yesterday evening I was privileged to attend the opening Mass of the 26th World Youth Day in the Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid with hundreds of thousands of other young Catholics.

Notting Hill Carnival could not compete with the vivacity and excitement demonstrated last night by the Church’s young, despite the intense heat and bustle. In an atmosphere of potential chaos, tempered by pure devotion, Madrid witnessed scenes that will forever remain in its memory.

Live Streaming Video of World Youth Day Events

Watch live streaming video from wydcentral at livestream.com

Sunlit Uplands is delighted to bring you live, streaming video of all the major events comprising World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain

We hope you will bookmark this page and check in often to be part of this great celebration of the universal Church.

For These Millennials, Faith Trumps Relativism

Crowds of young people throng the streets, singing, dancing and waving flags from around the world.

From USA Today

By Anna Williams

When a diminutive figure emerges in a white car, they erupt, jockeying for the best view of this international superstar. A rock idol? A marquee athlete? A political prodigy?

Nope: an old man — more scholar than celebrity — smiling shyly to acknowledge the adulation.

Pope Benedict XVI will arrive this week in Madrid for a week-long celebration marked by up to a million teenage and twenty-something Catholics as World Youth Day. The international event gives young Catholics a chance to learn about and practice their faith together: Think Mass, lectures, prayer and more Mass.

But this is not your average religious conference. The music is loud; the hours, late; the attendees, young, diverse, exuberant.

World Youth Day Begins: Voices of the Young

From Vatican Radio

As its name implies, the World Youth Day (WYD) gathering is a festival for young people who wish to celebrate their faith in the company of their peers from many different countries around the world and also get a chance to see the Pope at the same time.

So what are some of the main reasons that bring young people to the WYD event? And, what do they get from this experience? In Madrid, Emer McCarthy caught up with a group of pilgrims from South Africa and another group from Denver in the U.S. and got some enthusiastic feedback from both groups.

Listen to the full interviews by Emer McCarthy, first with a group of pilgrms from South Africa and then from the U.S: 

Pope Benedict Welcomes First Cuban Pilgrimage to the Tombs of the Apostles

An extraordinary story within the great spiritual mega-event that is World Youth Day, is the first Cuban pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles.  The Cuban youth, accompanied by Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino were greeted by Pope Benedict XVI at his Sunday audience at Castel Gandolfo.  They, along with nearly two million other young pilgrims from around the world, will join the Pope later this week in Madrid.

WYD and Pope Benedict’s Vision of a “New Evangelisation”

From Vatican Radio

This year’s World Youth Day will take place in the Spanish capital Aug. 16-20. Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to arrive Thursday, Aug. 18. In total, he will preside at nine events with young people over four days.

But this, the Pope’s third visit to Spain, will also have the diplomatic protocol of an official state visit. In fact the Holy Father will visit with the head of Spain, King Juan Carlos and meet with the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Speaking to Vatican Radio from Madrid Apsotolic Nunicio Archbishop Renzo Fratini says Spain “is waiting for the Holy Father with great desire and hope that he will also encourage a spiritual rebirth of the nation”.

The Nuncio in Madrid says the nation is going through a crisis of values and believes that the Pope will bring a new wind to society,” even though Pope Benedict’s mission is primarily a spiritual one.

He says “many young people feel disillusioned and are in need of new hope and so this day - I believe - represents a new beginning”. The Nuncio believes that this World Youth Day is a crucial component in Pope Benedict’s vision of a ‘new evangelization’ of the European continent.

Archbishop Fratini says “The Pope will also make time for confessions - a testimony to indicate that the Christian life really starts from an inner renewal, from a conversion: the return to God.”

The theme for World Youth Day in Madrid is “Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the Faith,” taken from St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. Archbishop Fratini believes this to be particularly apt in a time of economic uncertainty.

“I believe it is a good opportunity to rediscover the foundations of the fundamental choice of Christian life: live it every day in relationship with others and in a dimension of solidarity and openness to the world”. The Archbishop concluded with the hope that the week of events will help lead many young people to discover their vocation in life.  

Record Numbers to Attend World Youth Day in Madrid

With only 10 days to go, Madrid and World Youth Day organizers are preparing to welcome over a million people, including Pope Benedict who will arrive on August 18.  Approximately 30,000 pilgrims from the United States are registered to attend.  We will cover all the important events comprising this celebration of faith and hope for the universal Church.

Over 400,000 Already Registered for World Youth Day in Madrid

We are always struck by how much international traffic any post on this subject receives.  A truly hopeful sign for the future and the Kingdom!

From Catholic World News

More than 400,000 people have already registered to participate in the World Youth Day (WYD) celebrations in Spain in August, Vatican officials disclosed at a press conference on June 28.

Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, said that 14,000 priests and 744 bishops are expected to accompany the young people who assembly in Madrid for the WYD festivities, which open on August 16.

Organizers have recruited 24,000 volunteers, arranged 250 catechetical conferences, and ordered 700,000 copies of YouCat, the catechism prepared especially for young people.

WYD, said Cardinal Rylko, is “an epiphany of the Christian faith which has truly planetary dimensions.” He added: “And young people, especially in the old and profoundly secularized continent of Europe, have particular need of all this.”

In his message for World Youth Day, Pope Benedict XVI also alluded to the rising power of secularism in Europe. He pointed out that the last time WYD was held in Spain, in 1989, the event was soon followed by the fall of the Berlin Wall and eventually the disintegration of the Soviet empire. Now, he said, WYD was coming to Spain at another historical watershed, “at a time when Europe greatly needs to rediscover its Christian roots.”

In his message the Pope did not comment specifically on Spanish public affairs, but tensions between the Church and Spain’s liberal secularist government have formed the background for this year’s WYD. Church officials clearly hope that the fervor inspired by the WYD gathering will have some influence on the opinions of young Spaniards—as well as on the rising generation across Europe.

In his WYD message Pope Benedict encouraged young people to maintain their ideals. Recalling his own youth, the Pope said that “we were not willing to settle for a conventional, middle-class life. We wanted something great, something new.” The Pontiff urged the youth of today to maintain the same natural attitude, and “yearn for something truly greater.”

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Presentation of Twenty-Sixth World Youth Day (VIS)

• The Pope's message for World Youth Day (Vatican Radio)

• Even Facebook for 440 thousand already registered for World Youth Day in Madrid (AsiaNews)