[gromitt82]

Rio de Janeiro will host the next World Youth Day in 2013. Pope Benedict XVI announced at the Final Mass, before well over one and half million of young pilgrims at the military airbase of Cuatro Vientos in Madrid. "I am pleased now to announce that the next World Youth day will be held in 2013, in Rio de Janeiro”.

Never before there has been any event in Spain –and probably in the whole world – gathering such a colossal amount of people in a single place.

The physical impossibility to properly handle the logistics for such multitude had forced the local authorities to choose a military airbase located 9 kms. From Madrid.

A constant flow of young people from 193 countries (there are 198 in the world, after the ONU reports) started yesterday morning the march towards the airbase where they were met and attended by an army of some 19000 voluntaries with flags showing the languages they spoke, which included a variety from Urdu to Swahili or Tagalong.

The available surface of this little airport is of 10 sq. kms. (4 sq. miles apex.) so people were actually packed with virtually no room to move around.

However, between yesterday and today only less than 3000 cases of syncope, basically due to the tremendous heat they have had to put up with these 2 last days (an average of 100º F), have been attended by the Red Cross in charge of this service.

Last night the Pope celebrated a ceremony which was only interrupted by a serious storm of wind and rain that, if nothing else, helped to sort of refresh the torrid temperature of the day.

When, after close to 3 hours, the ceremony was over and the Pope had left, the more than 1.5 million young people there set up themselves to spend the night the best they could.

It is miraculous but somehow they all manage to spend the night there (as they were accessing the airport they were given backpacks with water and some sandwiches) and this morning, at 09:00 am they were ready to attend the last Mass, looking so happy and fresh as if they had spend the night at any 5 star Hotel!

The homily of the Pope has been particularly moving and another remarkable feat is that it was made in Spanish but it was followed in total silence, because those who had requested it could have the text in one of the 25 languages it had been printed!

I am extracting some excerpts I find particularly touching:

(“In this celebration of the Eucharist we have reached the high point of this World Youth Day. Seeing you here, gathered in such great numbers from all parts of the world, fills my heart with joy.
….Then Jesus turns to the disciples and asks them: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter responds with what is the first confession of faith: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”. Faith is more than just empirical or historical facts; it is an ability to grasp the mystery of Christ’s person in all its depth…
…Faith starts with God, who opens his heart to us and invites us to share in his own divine life. Faith does not simply provide information about who Christ is; rather, it entails a personal relationship with Christ, a surrender of our whole person, with all our understanding, will and feelings, to God’s self-revelation…
… Dear young people, today Christ is asking you the same question which he asked the Apostles: “Who do you say that I am?” Respond to him with generosity and courage, as befits young hearts like your own. Say to him: “Jesus, I know that you are the Son of God, who has given your life for me. I want to follow you faithfully and to be led by your word…
…The world needs the witness of your faith, it surely needs God. I think that the presence here of so many young people, coming from all over the world, is a wonderful proof of the fruitfulness of Christ’s command to the Church: “Go into the entire world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation…
… May we grow in holiness of life and be effective witnesses to the truth that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, the Savior of all mankind and the living source of our hope. Amen.”)

Some interesting data: the organization has manufactured 15 tons of Rosaries and prepared 5 million Hosts for the several Eucharist celebrated.

In short, all that we are to do now is to pray for the WYD of Rio to be as successful as this one in Madrid.
Gromitt82

[ruthie28751]

Waaahoo! I wish I could have been in Madrid for that, but I'm going to go to the one in Brazil. Can't wait for it! Are you going to make it to the one in Rio?

[Alty]

Is there a question, or is this just a statement/advertisement?

[Fr_Chuck]

Closed, no one is really answering and I see a lack of question