Pope says World Youth Day , Sydney, was new Pentecost

(July 28, 2008) The recent World Youth Day was a new Pentecost from which young pilgrims were sent to be apostles to their contemporaries. Pope Benedict made the remark on Sunday during his traditional midday ‘angelus’ prayer with a large crowd in the courtyard of his summer palace of Castelgandolfo, south of Rome. He was referring to his recent trip to Australia for the 23rd World Youth Day in Sydney, in which he participated from July 17 to 20. He said he experienced the youthful face of the Church; it was like a multi-coloured mosaic, formed by young men and women from every part of the globe, all gathered together in the one faith in Jesus Christ." Commenting on the week of events, the Pope called the catechetical sessions "moments of reflection and recollection that were indispensable for making the event one that, instead of being a merely external manifestation, would leave a deep impression on the conscience." The evening vigil on July 19, he said, "was a choral invocation of the Holy Spirit”; and at the end, during the large Eucharistic celebration a week ago, he said, he administered the sacrament of confirmation to 24 young people from different continents…., inviting all present to renew their baptismal vows." World Youth Day was "transformed into a new Pentecost," the Pontiff said, "from which the mission of the young people, called to be apostles to their contemporaries, was re-launched."