World Youth Day 2011 officially opens on Tuesday evening with an inaugural Mass celebrated
in Madrid's Plaza de la Cibeles by the archbishop of the city, Cardinal Antonio Maria
Rouco Varela. Hundreds of thousands of young people from countries right across the
globe spent the morning registering for the six day event - some of them queuing for
over an hour under the scorching sunshine to pick up their brightly coloured back
packs filled with all kinds of practical information and catechetical materials, plus
hats, T-shirts, fans and even a bottle of alcohol-free beer! Thousands of volunteers
from all over Spain and beyond have been busy for months, preparing for this moment
and working hard to make sure each pilgrim enjoys the experience of a lifetime. Among
them is Helena Cebrian, a member of the WYD 2011 organising committee - our correspondant
in Madrid, Emer McCarthy caught up with her at the pilgrim centre to find out how
all the detailed planning is paying off........
Listen to Emer McCarthy's interview
with Helena Cebrian: