(May 28, 2011) “Young people have their whole lives before them, and World Youth
Day is the chance to lay the foundations for those lives,” said on Thursday, the
archbishop of Madrid, where the youth event will be held this August. Cardinal Antonio
María Rouco Varela was giving a lecture titled "Three Months Away From World Youth
Day." The international gathering with the Pope is scheduled for Aug. 16-21. The
74-year-old cardinal proposed that the fruits of World Youth Days be quickly evident
in vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life and marriage. World Youth Days "were
a personal initiative of John Paul II, who opted for a new generation of youth, the
youth of 2000. Now, Pope Benedict XVI is carrying on this legacy," the cardinal stated.
Cardinal Rouco Varela said the choice of Spain as the WYD venue points to "the spiritual
contribution of this country to the history of the Church and to Western culture.
This is evident in the spiritual legacy left by the patrons of World Youth Day: St.
Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Rose of Lima, St. Francis Xavier." He
pointed out that the youth gathering is not just a Church event, but one for "society
and the city hosting it." The 400,000 registered young people come from 182 countries.