Pope Benedict XVI is eager to meet the vast crowds of young people
who are gathering in Madrid and is looking forward to the “wonderfully
spiritual” moments that will occur during the four-day international
event.
“The Pope is very happy and very much looking forward to meeting a million young people next week,” said papal spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., in Aug. 12 remarks to CNA.
“It will obviously be a very demanding trip for him because it is a four-day visit. But he knows from his previous World Youth Days in Cologne and Sydney that these are great occasions with great enthusiasm and he wants to give young people a witness to faith and encouragement to live lives of hope and charity.”
“The Pope is very happy and very much looking forward to meeting a million young people next week,” said papal spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., in Aug. 12 remarks to CNA.
“It will obviously be a very demanding trip for him because it is a four-day visit. But he knows from his previous World Youth Days in Cologne and Sydney that these are great occasions with great enthusiasm and he wants to give young people a witness to faith and encouragement to live lives of hope and charity.”
Pope
Benedict will arrive on the evening of Thursday, August 18. He will
then preside at a total of nine events with young people over the next
four days, culminating in Sunday morning Mass at the city’s Cuatro
Vientos airport.
Fr. Lombardi revealed that over 800 bishops plan to attend that Mass.
“Obviously
the Eucharist on Sunday is the most important moment of the four days
for the Pope, but he’s also looking forward to other very significant
moments that will be wonderfully spiritual occasions,” said Fr.
Lombardi.
He highlighted the Pope’s leading of the Way of the
Cross through the streets of Madrid on the Friday – prayed with “the
intensity of the Spanish spiritual tradition” - as one such moment.
The
spokesman also said the Pope is looking forward to meeting with several
young people and giving them the sacrament of Reconciliation at the
city’s Jardines del Buen Retiro the next day.
“Also Mass with the seminarians on Saturday will be a wonderful reminder of the spirituality of the priesthood on, this, the 60th anniversary of the Pope’s ordination,” noted Fr. Lombardi.
“Also Mass with the seminarians on Saturday will be a wonderful reminder of the spirituality of the priesthood on, this, the 60th anniversary of the Pope’s ordination,” noted Fr. Lombardi.
For Pope Benedict celebrating
“the Mass of Jesus Christ, eternal high priest, will be great.”
Fr.
Lombardi also explained that Pope John Paul II will be a significant
figure at World Youth Day. The recently beatified pontiff was declared
one of the patrons of the event earlier this year.”
It was also confirmed that the Pope
will make time next week to visit the King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia
of Spain, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and opposition
leader Mariano Rajoy.