WYD pilgrims' task: Help pope revive faith in Spain

(August 01, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI will visit Spain in late August, celebrating the youthfulness and vigour of Catholic faith in a country where the Catholic majority often seems to have little or no impact on modern public life. The primary focus on the pope's trip August 18-21 will be on Catholic youths from around the globe participating in World Youth Day. But Pope Benedict also will meet with Spain's royal family and with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose government has promoted several policies opposed by the church, including relaxing Spain's divorce laws, easing restrictions on abortion, legalizing same-sex marriage and allowing gay couples to adopt. The situation is particularly worrying because more than 92 percent of Spain's 46 million citizens are baptized Catholic and because the country has a long and proud Catholic history. Spain has given the church some of its greatest saints and mystics, and Spanish members of religious orders continue to serve as missionaries around the world, particularly in Latin America. The organizers of World Youth Day 2011, which begins on August 16, hope the hoards of young Catholics descending on Madrid not only will energize each other's faith, but that they'll also be powerful witnesses to the lukewarm among Spain's Catholics. Yago de la Cierva, World Youth Day Madrid director said: "Spain is suffering through a process of secularization that is very deep and moving very fast. We hope World Youth Day will be effective in presenting Jesus Christ and the church in a more accurate way, in a light that shows our joy.” Pope Benedict is travelling to Spain to pray with young people and help them solidify their relationship with God through the Mass and the sacraments.