Pilgrims will not be likely to forget the 2011 Madrid World Youth Day in a hurry. Any event that gathers 1.5 – 2 million young people together to celebrate their faith is a huge success, and whether it be the intense heat, untimely rain and wind or the growth in faith, the atmosphere of the Read more
Responding to protests in Spain that Spanish taxpayers will be footing the bill for World Youth Day, the Vatican has released a statement saying that all costs will be absorbed by participants and corporate sponsors. The Vatican acknowledged there will be some indirect costs to the country such as security and traffic control, but it Read more
Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Madrid for what is officially the 26th edition of World Youth Day, a total which includes off-year events organized, at least in theory, at the diocesan level. Counting just the massive international gatherings headlined by the pope, Madrid is the 12th World Youth Day since John Paul II launched the Read more
Martin Leung-Wai, a 25-year-old New Zealander who was one of 12 young people to share lunch with Pope Benedict said it “made my World Youth Day experience the experience of a lifetime”. Leung-Wai, a 25-year-old from Auckland, said, “Having lunch with the Holy Father is something you tell your family and friends and future generations about”. Read more
Pope Benedict braved thunder, lightning, strong winds and torrential rain to preside at the 2011 WYD vigil prayer service. “Be proud of the gift of faith which you have received, as it will illumine your life at every moment,” the Pope said to 1.5 million young people at Cuatro Vientos air base on the outskirts Read more
The arrival of Pope Benedict, World Youth Day in Madrid moved up a gear and in Benedict’s words, Madrid has become the capital of the world for youth. Amid the heat of the burning sun, the 1.5 – 2 million pilgrims, the need for water, all didn’t seem to matter to Jo Anne Rowney who Read more
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 Read more
