"Fewer than 300 of the 427 delegated have returned," said Fr Noel Osial, head of Manilia's Don Bosco parish.

"There are really some who are using this World Youth Day as an avenue (for illegal immigration) because they have relatives already there," Osial said.

Desperate citizens in the overwhelmingly Catholic nation have been known to use a wide array of tricks to flee deep poverty at home and find higher paying jobs overseas.

Another group posed as members of the Philippines' national volleyball teams at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games in Japan.

About nine million Filipinos - a tenth of the population - work legally or illegally abroad.

Father Conegondo Garganta, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' Episcopal Commission on Youth that helped the pilgrims secure visas, made a televised appeal for them to come home.

"They should spread the message to those who took part in this pilgrimage to respect our agreement," Garganta said in an interview aired over GMA television.

The European vista for the escaped Filipino pilgrims run out in two weeks.

Sources

• AsiaOne
• Image: Ripples

The surplus was generated by accommodation, transport services and business such as food providers.

The director of the Hotel Industry Business Association in Madrid, Juan Jose Blardony, said three million meal tickets were distributed to young people throughout the week, valued at nearly NZ$39 million.

WYD organisers originally estimated the event would bring in NZ$170, which is much lower than the NZ$280 they now calculate.

The figures will now be given to an external auditor for final verification.

Other financial facts emerging from WYD 2011 include:

• World Youth Day generated 3 times the revenue made by the Champions League Final in 2010
• hotels reported a 70% occupancy rate compared with the normal 40% for around this time
• the City Council estimates 2% of tourism revenue for the country in one week

Violent protests repeatedly flared throughout the papal visit as between 3000-5000 anti-pope protesters voiced their concerns about the 50 million euro price tag of the four-day trip.

Priests from Madrid's poorest parishes also criticised the cost of the trip.

"We are not organising a protest against the Pope but to complain about an event which is very expensive in times of crisis and high unemployment," said Evaristo Villar, a priest and member of Redes Cristianos.

"An event of this kind has no place in a country with five million unemployed," he said.

The Spanish Government is yet to release the costs associated with policing the protests.

Sources

• CNA
• Rome Reports (YouTube)
• CathNews - WYD to cost Spanish taxpayers nothing
• CathNews - Spanish priests join opposition to cost of Pope's visit for WYD2011
• CathNews - Violent protests, a Kiss-in, Pro-condom lobby and hackers greet Pope at WYD
• Image: Inquirer News

"With your service, you have shown the face of kindness, friendliness and commitment to others," the the 84 year old pope said.

"I want to stop and thank you with all my heart for your invaluable service."

"Everyone did his or her best, by work and prayer, to weave, stitch by stitch, the magnificent, colorful tapestry of this World Youth Day," the Holy Father said.

Hundreds of volunteers, many wearing their green T-shirts, waved and cheered as the Popemobile entered the building. Several stood on the shoulders of friends to get a better look.

Volunteers gave up participating directly in the events to help make things run smoothly.

"At every event in which I took part, you were there: some were highly visible, while others stayed in the background, helping to ensure that everything took place in an orderly fashion," he said.

"This sacrifice was itself a beautiful and evangelical way to take part in the celebrations: you gave yourselves to others," Pope Benedict said.

"To love means to serve," he said, "and service increases love."

"Thank you for looking after the Pope."

Sources

• AFP
• CNA
• CNS
• Madrid11

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 occasion will remain a life-long experience.

The complexity of modern Spain meant World Youth Day 2011 has not been all plain-sailing.

Violent protests, a gay and lesbian kiss-in, a high profile pro-condom lobby and World Youth Day website hackers threatened to take the shine away from the event.

Protests became violent

Violence repeatedly flared throughout the papal visit, as Spanish riot-police swung batons in clashes with anti-Church protesters.

Between 3000-5000 anti-pope protesters marched on the Spanish capital's central Sol Plaza to voice their concerns about the 50 million euro price tag of the four-day trip.

Pilgrims were put under pressure and at times were told to stay away from some of Madrid's popular areas.

"Pilgrims have been asked not to go to Sol for security reasons," Malaysian pilgrim Yap Thomas reported on Twitter.

"Sometimes we were very afraid ...but they did not attack me", Lilly Cozzoleno of Italy told CNS.

Protesters were in the main objecting to the cost of WYD, and chanted "God yes, Church no"; "Not with my taxes"; "We are not the pope's youth" and "I am a sinner, sinner, sinner".

Some protesters even taunted the faithful shouting: "Nazi, nazi."

Baton-wielding anti-riot police were used to disperse the protesters.

Not all one-sided, one protester against the papal visit, who would not give his name, bled from the nose. "I was in the demonstration with my father and one of the Catholics punched me in the face," he said.

The Vatican however rebuffed protesters' claims saying, "The event will not cost anything" for Spain.

"The burden will fall on the church, the pilgrims and private donors," it said.

Kiss-in foiled

On Thursday, more than 100 activists planned to join up along the street where the Pope travelled in his white, bulletproof Popemobile and stage a kiss-in.

Police foiled plans by gays and lesbians, blocking the protesters, forcing them to disperse.

In the end only two men managed to skirt security and kiss for the cameras just as the Pope passed by along the major Madrid artery of Calle Serrano.

Condom use promotion got creative

For the past few years an American-based organisation, Catholics for Choice, have run advertisements on billboards in Madrid subway stations and busses as part of their Condoms4Life programme.

This year the ads have been banned.

In a press release Catholics for Choice president, John O'Brien defended the ads. "As Catholics, we were supporting Pope Benedict's claim that condoms can save lives," he said.

It is unclear why liberal Spanish authorities blocked the ads, but it forced Catholics for Choice to adopt alternative creative strategies such as extensive social media campaigns, badges for pilgrims to wear and night-time projections onto the walls of buildings.

Despite being shut down, Catholics for Choice expressed delight at the success of their campaign.

"We were all over the media - local, national and international - and our projections were beamed around the world," they said in their last blog post on social media platform Tumblr.

Website hacked

Issues have also hampered communication from the World Youth Day's official website.

The website began experiencing problems on August 15 and organisers confirmed the issues were the result of computer hackers, and despite several successful attempts to prevent the site being hacked, the event's technicians were unable to prevent several "Denials of Service attacks" which temporarily, but repeatedly took the site down, hampering officials' communications efforts, particularly with the media.

WYD organisers released a statement saying, "Out of respect for the millions of people who are following us around the world and the 4,900 accredited communication professionals at WYD, we believe it is necessary to inform the public about this hacking attempt."

The organizers said they regret "any distress caused" and confirmed they are working to resolve the issue.

Benedict left Madrid after Mass on Sunday, but not before calling on some of the 30,000 volunteers to thank them for their work.

Sources

• CNA
• Twitter @yapthomas
• The Province
• American Catholic
• Mail Online
• Huffington Post
• France 24

The Vatican acknowledged there will be some indirect costs to the country such as security and traffic control, but it expected the 1.5 million visitors to Spain will generate considerable additional revenue for the economy during their week-long visit.

"The event will not cost anything" for Spain, it said, "The burden will fall on the church, the pilgrims, and private donors," it added, citing Spanish Government Spokesman Jose Blanco.

Meanwhile, the Independent Catholic News has published financial data for World Youth Day 2011, showing the event to be completely self-financed.

"The cost is covered in full by pilgrim registrations (70%) and donations (30%). No contribution has been made towards World Youth Day by the Spanish government or the local councils in Madrid. World Youth Day costs the Spanish tax-payer nothing, while it has been estimated that World Youth Day will contribute in excess of 100 million Euros to the Spanish economy," the report stated.

The Spanish leftist union CGT estimated that the real cost to taxpayers is around 100 million euros and Priests from Madrid's poorest parishes have criticised the cost of Pope Benedict's visit to Madrid for World Youth Day.

Sources

• Independent Catholic News
• Ansa
• Image: The Guardian

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". When asked why he hesitated to say it was something you tell your grandchildren about, he said he was one of many at World Youth Day considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

Leung-Wai also invited Pope Benedict to New Zealand.

"He was laughing," the young man said.

Martin, a former pupil of De la salle College describes himself on Twitter as a"Recent Architectural Graduate/ Zumba Instructor/Artist and a chilled out guy"

Source

• CNS News
• Image:Yfrog.com

"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 of Madrid.

"Let yourselves be seized by God, so that your presence in the Church will give her new life!"

Pope Benedict had barely begun his address when a ferocious lightning storm disrupted the vigil prayer service.

While some pilgrims scrambled for shelter others danced in the rain. The Pope, covered by several papal-white umbrellas, continued his address for a little longer, but in the end a drenched, yet remarkably serene 84 year old Pontiff took refuge, forgoing his prepared text.

"Like an Apocalypse here!" Jo Anne Rowney said via Twitter.

The storm was in complete contrast to earlier in the afternoon when firetrucks weaved their way through the crowd, spraying them with water, cooling them from the searing 40C heat.

The elements settled, a change of clothes for the Holy Father and he returned to the stage.

"I hope you were able to sleep despite the inclement weather," the Pope said.

"We live an adventure together."

"Like tonight, with Christ you can face the trials of life. Do not forget. Thank you," Benedict said.

"Benedict XVI was determined, extremely determined to stay, just as the young stayed. He had not the slightest doubt. The storm was a parable of Christian life in which moments of difficulty are overcome by the strength of faith," Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said.

Despite the hardships of the previous day, the initial heat, then the downpour, hundreds of thousands young people spent the night on the open field at the airport base.

They were up, ready and rowdy when the Pope arrived, and he noticed.

"The vision of that sea of happy souls fills my heart with joy," he said.

In his homily, Benedict said that faith is not about understanding a bunch of facts, rather "it's an ability to grasp the mystery of Christ's person in all it's depth."

The pope urged Sunday's crowd not to hold on to their faith but to share it.

"So do not keep Christ to yourselves. Share with others the joy of your faith," he said.

The storm that interrupted Saturday's prayer vigil also damaged several large tents where the consecrated hosts were being stored for Sunday morning's WYD Mass, reports Vatican Radio.

According to Yago de la Lierva, head of the world Youth Day organising committee, for safety reasons most pilgrims were not able receive Holy Communion at the World Youth Day Mass.

The Pope concluded the celebration of faith by announcing that Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will host the next World Youth Day.

Rio will also host the Summer Olympics in 2016 and Brazil will host the World Soccer Cup in 2014.

Sources

• CNA
• Vatican Radio

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 tweeted her excitement as she was "about to see Papa."

In his address to the youth, the Holy Father told the vibrant youth that it is God who gives wings to our freedom, God's words that feed our being, but when we don't follow Christ and get lost we can always count on God's mercy, particularly in the sacrament of penance.

Pope Benedict told the youth that humanity has been created and is the main protagonist in the search for truth.

He encouraged the pilgrims to use the time to get to know Christ better, to build on solid rock, rock that is stable.

Towards the end of his address, Benedict commended the fruits of the Madrid WYD to Mary. "She teaches like no one else," he said.

Support among the pilgrims is immeasurable, however the Pope's visit is not without contention.

• Eight demonstrators have been arrested and 11 people injured in clashes between riot police and protesters in Madrid opposed to a visit by the Pope. The violence broke out after a march by thousands of people angry that - among other things - taxpayer money is being spent on the four-day visit by Pope Benedict XVI for a festival called World Youth Day.
• Earlier in the day, a young chemistry student working as a volunteer to prepare a visit by the Pope to Madrid was arrested on suspicion of planning a gas attack targeting protesters opposed to the pontiff's stay.
• Throughout the buildup and during WYD, young activists are taking their "Condoms4Life" campaign to the streets of the Madrid, this despite civil authorities some weeks ago barring bus ads and billboards in the city.

Not leaving a moment to chance, on the flight to Madrid, the pope answered several questions put to him by reporters, one of which at least indirectly related to the question of taxpayer money being spent on his visit and WYD when he denounced economic structures that put profits ahead of people.

"The economy cannot be measured by the maximum profit but by the common good," Benedict told journalists.

"The economy cannot function only with mercantile self-regulation but needs an ethical reason in order to work for man," he said.

The Spanish economy is struggling to exit a recession which has left one in five unemployed, of which a large proportion are young people.

Sources

• The West
• The Vatican - Full text of Pope's address
• @madelineteahan
• @joannerowney
• Image: Jo Anne Rowney

"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

"The Priests' Forum" estimates the cost of the visit, not counting security, to be around NZ$105 million, and says the visit cannot be justified at a time of massive public cuts and 20% unemployment in Spain.

To cover the cost, more than 100 corporate sponsors are associating themselves with WYD2011.

"The companies that are backing World Youth Day and the pope's visit leave much to be desired," 68 year-old Fr Evaristo Villar said.

"They are the ones who, together with international capital, have caused the crisis. We are not against the pope's visit, we are against the way it is being staged."

"Catholics can go wherever they like in Madrid but the freedom of movement of the rest of us is restricted," said Francisco Delgado, leader of Europa Laica, on discovering that the city had prohibited his group's proposed march.

Opponents of the visit, such as "Secular Europe" who are against the pope's visit, have set up a Facebook page calling for a boycott of the "papal" sponsors.

Other such as Europa Laica plans to march under the slogans "Not a penny of my taxes for the pope" and "For a secular state".

There is particular ire that the some 500,000 pilgrims expected in the city will get free transport. Madrid metro fares rose by 50% on Monday.

"With the economic crisis we are going through, we can't pay for this. The church should set the example," said a spokesman for the Indignados movement, which has staged high-profile protests in central Madrid. "They propose to spend €60m (NZ$105M) when the regional government has just cut €40m (NZ$70m) from the education budget."

The executive director of World Youth Day 2011, Yago de la Cierva, said: "We have made a huge effort to be moderate and economically responsible. The new generations - young people today - they like big events and the Church uses all the tools that exist to present the message of Jesus Christ."

WYD2011 organisers say 80% of the event's cost will be financed by the young pilgrims and head of Madrid's Housing and Economy Office, Percival Manglano confirmed recently that WYD2011 is expected to bring NZ$175 million into the Spanish economy.

Papal Nuncio to Spain, Archbishop Renzo Fratini told Vatican Radio that WYD2011 will transcend Spain's economic woes.

"Spain is waiting for the Holy Father with great desire and hope that he will also assist a recovery on a spiritual level. There's a great expectation and the whole city is abuzz," the Nuncio said.

Spain's interest in the Catholic faith, a traditionally Catholic country, has fallen in the past 10 years. A recent survey by the national statistics office showed that the number of believers aged 18 to 24 has fallen by 56%.

Sources

• Breitbart
• CNA
• The Guardian
• CNA
• CBS News
• Image: Freethinker

The new App, iGPII, named after the founder of WYD, former Pope John Paul II, works on iPod, iPhone and iPad, and will provide regularly updated information about World Youth day activities, directions to recommended restaurants, places to stay and sights to see in Madrid.

The App promises participants the ability to

• better position themselves for WYD events,
• track their friends' locations and
• locate the leader of their group should a participant become lost.

A paid App, it is available from the iTunes store in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Revenue from the sale of the App will be used to help fund the John Paul II Foundation for Youth, which among other things helps fund youth, who would ordinarily not be able, to participate in WYD 2011.

"We wanted to do something for young people who are in worse situations than young Europeans, so that they could also participate in the World Youth Day," said the designer Iacopo Barberini.

Barberini intends to introduce versions for Android, BlackBerry and Symbian smartphones for similar events in the future.

World Youth Day 2011 takes place later this month, 16- 21 August in Madrid, Spain.

Sources

• Huffington Post
• Catholic Online
• Image: Rome Reports

On the website, users can create an avatar and use it to participate in the "pilgrimage" coinciding with the August 16-21 worldwide youth gathering. A Google map also provides visuals of pilgrims' worldwide origins and shows them on a detailed map of Madrid.

A less cluttered Facebook fan page for the "Virtual World Youth Day" lets users take part in the virtual pilgrimage, view live video from Madrid, follow key Twitter feeds and blogs, join discussions and upload photos and videos.

Those in Madrid can contribute to the page from the event. A team of young adults and young adult leaders attending World Youth Day will post to the page.

Around 1,300 have joined the web page and 900 have "liked" the Facebook page.

Sources

• CNA
• Image: Virtual World Youth Day

In a rare break in public loyalty, the 120 priests told their archbishop, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, that the sponsorship deals reinforced the impression the Church was a privileged institution.

The Church recently signed up a list of high-profile corporate sponsors including multi-nationals and Spain's top companies, and mounted a nationwide advertising campaign in preparation for WYD.

The Priests of Madrid Forum complained that organizers have made "a pact with the economic and political powers which reinforces the image of the Church as a privileged institution, close to power, and the social scandal this implies, especially in the context of the economic crisis", in a 10 page open letter.

"To trust in the strength of power and money ... is to give in to a temptation as old as the Church," said the letter.

"No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money," the letter said, citing the passage from the Bible, Matthew 6:24.

"The crisis has its origin in the banks' and large groups' uncontrolled desire for profits," the priests wrote.

"We believe the Cardinal, concerned about the multi-million budget for the event, has chosen the worst collaborators."

The Archbishop declined to comment.

Sources

• Foro "Curas de Madrid"
• Reuters
• Image: Concordat Watch