Hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world gathered in Madrid, Spain for the opening Mass of World Youth Day 2011.
“The day that we’ve been waiting for has arrived, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, said as he welcomed the crowd.
“These will be days you will never forget.”
They are “days of important discoveries and decisions that will be decisive for your future,” he said.
Reflecting on the words of St. Paul that form the theme of this year’s World Youth Day: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith (Col 2:7),” the cardinal acknowledged the challenge of living out this call.
“This is very demanding because it contains a definite life plan for each one of us,” he said.
“Faith is like a root that is nourished by the lifeblood of the word of God and the sacraments.”
“It is the foundation, the rock on which life is built, the dependable compass that guides our choices and gives clear direction to our lives.”
Rylko told the young people that they had come to Madrid to say aloud to the whole world, and in particular to Europe, who is showing signs of being very lost, that faith is possible, that it is a wonderful adventure and it allows people to discover the beauty of their lives.
For hours before Mass, and in searing 40 degree heat, pilgrims lined the streets of Madrid and entertained themselves in the hot sun, dancing, singing, listening to the music blaring out from massive speakers and being entertained with big red WYD beach balls.
The social networks, particular Twitter and Facebook were abuzz with updates, the city was alive with one giant international party.
“It’s mad here,” says Jo Anne Rowney on Twitter.
“2.5 million pilgrims is just a figure until you actually see them all. Crazy,” she said.
“121 hours of eucharistic adoration to kick off after the opening mass in Madrid. It ain’t all partying!” said Emer McCarthy.
McCarthy said she met a Malaysian pilgrim who worked for four years to get to Madrid. She described the meeting as “humbling.”
The mood in the city is overwhelmingly positive.
“When you come here, you feel at home,” said Mpofu, 27 who is not long off the plane from Zimbabwe.
“You don’t need to explain yourself. You are who you are. We understand each other.”
“It’s been an overwhelming experience when you see that everyone shares the same faith, despite color, race and upbringing and culture,” said Fungai Mawada, 20.
800 Bishops and around 8,000 priests concelebrated the opening Mass.
Sources
- CNS
- US Catholic
- Image: Catholic Herald