Madrid Church, Civil Leaders Prepare for 2 Million

(July 23, 2010) The archbishop of Madrid signed an agreement of collaboration with the city's mayor for the hosting of the next World Youth Day, which 2 million are expected to attend. Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela signed the agreement Tuesday with Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardón to stipulate terms of collaboration for the August 2011 youth day. Pope Benedict XVI will attend the event, along with an estimated 1,000 prelates. Around 100,000 volunteers are already preparing for those days, the mayor reported. The cardinal noted that since the registration opened earlier this month, "tens of thousands of young people have already registered from 100 countries and about 400 groups." The Mayor expressed the hope that Madrid will be a "home" for the visitors during those days. During the signing ceremony, Cardinal Rouco Varela affirmed "the human quality of the young people who are going to come, who are going to conquer the heart of Madrid's inhabitants." He pointed out that World Youth Day "is an event that expresses the life of the youth of the Church in its liturgical ceremonies" and in living the Word of God. The prelate expressed the hope that this event "will bring the city peace and goodness, in addition to answers that satisfy young people's heart." Cardinal Rouco Varela noted that the event will be a celebration of a "happy, beautiful, fine, joyful and festive" youth. The municipality has agreed to provide space to house the visitors and to prepare Venues for meetings and for cultural events.