As the reflectors are switched off on the extraordinary XXVI edition of the World Youth Day that witnessed around 2 million youths from all over the world gathered around Benedict XVI, some news from Madrid tell of those marvelous and wondrous days. Madrid, August 19, 2011 - First day of the World Youth Day (WYD). The Way of the Cross began in a central location within the city, where magnificent traditional images utilized, from the Holy Week procession (known as “los pasos”), were brought over from several Spanish regions.
It was really unbelievable to see hundreds of thousands of youths, who, in spite of the heat and their built-up tiredness, came from everywhere. The morning after they would be attending the catechesis in different parts of the city.
At the nunciature, the lunch of Pope Benedict XVI with 12 youths from various continents developed into a very intimate and familial encounter. They were happy and moved by the meeting, yet everything happened in the most normal way. All of them affirmed that the Pope listened to them more than he spoke. He wanted to know the attitude with which the youths lived those days of the WYD, and what their interests were, as well as those of their age group. Well, he was interested about the reality of youths from all parts of the world. Only at the end did they ask the Holy Father what he expected from them, to which his reply was: “That you may be witnesses to the faith, each of you in your own environment, rooted in Christ, and being always precursors of enthusiasm and joy.”
This is what we experienced in the evening during a moment of prayer and adoration organized in a large church dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is impossible to describe the joy, and at the same time, the solemnity that reigned. Contrary to prediction, the Church was already full half an hour early; therefore they also had to prepare the large crypt, linked up by video, for the program which took place in Spanish, English, and Italian.
Singing alternated between the Spanish musical band of Youths for a United World and the international Focolare singing group, Gen Rosso, now both well rehearsed together. The event was introduced by Rafael of Porto Alegre and Natalia from China, who related a few experiences about their commitment to live the Gospel. Then, Chiara Lubich – through a video to youths assembled at La Coruna for the WYD of 1989 – brought us to another level. It was as though she was in our midst, speaking to us about the immense project that God has in the life of each one! Immersed in this very high spiritual atmosphere, it was but natural for us to adore Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament which was exposed by Mons. Andres Carrascosa, Apostolic Nuncio of Panama. The moments of silence were interspersed by songs and musical excerpts in a marvelous intimacy with God.
We left one another with an appointment to meet the following day at “Cuatro Vientos” (a military airport on the outskirts of Madrid) for the much awaited Holy Mass. It took place amid rain and storm, but without affecting in any way the ardor and enthusiasm of the youths, who were really concentrated in prayer, so much so that the Pope exclaimed: “Thank you for your joy and your resistance. Your strength has been stronger than the rain.”
The next day, TV stations all over the world transmitted the extraordinary images of that sea of youths under the sun (around 2 million according to the organizers), attentively listening to the words of Benedict XVI: “Reply to Him with generosity and audacity, as is proper of a young heart like yours. Tell Him, Jesus, I know that you are the Son of God, that you gave up your life for me… you know me and love me. I trust you and put my entire life in your hands… You be the strength that sustains me, the joy that will never abandon me… Communicate to others the joy of your faith.”
In fact, his invitation to everyone for the next edition of WYD in 2013 at Rio De Janeiro, in Brazil, was met with great enthusiasm.
Dolores Garcia
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