“Whenever I bring to mind the twenty-sixth World Youth Day in Madrid, my heart fills
with gratitude to God for the experience of grace of those unforgettable days” said
Pope Benedict XVI Monday as he greeted thousands of young people, bishops and organizers
of the Madrid event, held last August in the Spanish capital. Listen to Emer
McCarthy's report:
The 5 thousand
strong group that packed the Paul VI audience hall were also a visible presence at
Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square on Sunday together with their Brazilian contemporaries
who will host the next global gathering in Rio de Janeiro in 2013, to celebrate the
27th WYD in the Pope’s diocese of Rome.
Pope Benedict told them
that the huge success of the World Youth Day’s, the brainchild of Blessed John Paul
II; “can only be understood in the light of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the
Church”, which “continues to breath life into hearts”, and “brings us into the public
square of history, just as at Pentecost, to witness the wonders of God”.
The
Holy Father told the young people that they in particular “are called to cooperate
in this exciting and worthwhile task”. He said “Christ needs you to extend your hand
and build His Kingdom of love. This is possible if you have him as the best of friends
and witness by leading a life according to the Gospel, with courage and fidelity”.
Pope
Benedict said that some people “might assume that this has nothing to do with them
or that it is a task that exceeds their capabilities and talents. But it is not so”.
“Do not fail to ask yourselves what the Lord is calling you to and how you can help.
You all have a vocation”, he said “to happiness and holiness”.
The Pope continued
that young people, like the early apostles, must be missionaries of Christ among
their relatives, friends and acquaintances, in study or work environments, among the
poor and sick: “Speak of your love and kindness with simplicity, without complexes
or fear. Christ Himself will give you strength for this”. “Confide in Him your hopes
and aspirations, but also your sorrows and those of the people you see around you
who are devoid of comfort and hope”.
Then looking ahead to the next global
appointment Pope Benedict invited young people around the world to gather again in
what will undoubtedly be a milestone in the path of the Church, always young, that
wants to broaden the horizon of new generations with the treasure of the Gospel, strength
of life for the world”. Also Monday morning in the Holy See Press Office, a press
conference was held to provide information on preparations for World Youth Day (WYD)
2013, due to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 23 to 28 July 2013. The conference
was presented by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for
the Laity; Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta O. Cist. of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro,
and Msgr. Eduardo Pinheiro da Silva, president of the Brazilian Episcopal Commission
for Youth.
In his remarks Cardinal Rylko expressed the view that "WYD truly
was a prophetic intuition on the part of Blessed John Paul II, and marked a revolution
in the field of youth pastoral care. ... And Benedict XVI has explained how WYD opens
up a new way of being Christian". Hence the great efforts the Church makes in preparing
these events, he explained.
With the Rio celebration, WYD is returning to Latin
America, twenty-six years after the first international WYD, held in Buenos Aires.
Rio 2013 "will be part of the continental mission, which emerged from the meeting
of bishops of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) at Aparecida in 2007. At
the level of the universal Church, the Rio WYD will also be linked to this year's
Synod of Bishops on the theme of the new evangelisation". The cardinal also noted
that the WYD will be taking place during the Year of Faith. "The aim of WYD", the
cardinal explained, "is to increase faith among young people and foment the mission.
... The main need of young people today is to be rooted in the faith and in the great
family of the Church, in order to be able to make a greater and more effective contribution
to the life of society".
In conclusion, the cardinal also mentioned this year's
World Youth Day, which was celebrated throughout the world at a diocesan level yesterday
under the theme "Rejoice in the Lord always". "Joy is a characteristic of WYDs", he
said. "and that is no coincidence because, if on the one hand young people seek happiness,
on the other the Church possesses in herself the treasure of true joy, which arises
from encountering Christ the Saviour".
For his part Archbishop Tempesta recalled
that information on next year's WYD is available in five languages on the website:
www.rio2013.com. The WYD page on Facebook and Twitter already has 600,000 followers,
and bookings for pilgrim groups will be open as of July this year.
In conclusion
the archbishop of Rio noted that the Brazilian economy had improved in recent years,
and social differences had diminished. "WYD will", he said, "be an opportunity to
improve the Christian values of solidarity, justice, hope and courage among the new
generations".