The Church’s spring
One week away from the start of World Youth Day
raises readers’ suspense, especially for the arrival of Benedict XVI and
preparations are well underway.
After the preparations that have gone
on over last few days, Spain is ready to welcome youngsters in the
Country’s 68 dioceses and the preparatory catecheses that will be held
by 270 bishops from all over the world, in 30 different languages.
WYD
in Madrid is being proclaimed as a “kind of Pentecost”: Cardinal
Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity
confirmed this in a comment on Vatican Radio: “It will be an
important ecclesiastical event, a celebration of Church youth, a
fascinating expression of young faith, full on enthusiasm and missionary
dynamism. Today’s world, especially our continent, Europe, is in great
need of an expression of faith such as this…WYDs have become an integral
part of the Church’s pastoral care for young generations. And this
time, it is the Church of Spain that is being consulted in particular.
The period of preparation for WYD was a very special time, during which
the Spanish Church was able, in a sense, to rediscover itself, its great
spiritual resources, and above all, the hidden resources of its
youngsters.”
Picking up on the Pope’s “Rooted and based in Christ, firm in the faith” theme, the President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity said that “The post-modern world is going through a deep and difficult crisis. A diffused relativism is creating a dangerous gap in values and in consciousness. The post-modern culture is a “liquid” culture, without stable points of reference. As a consequence, it breeds humans who have no roots, without any solid foundations in their existence… In such a situation there is a growing need, especially among youngsters, to find the true roots to their human and Christian identity as well as the need for solid foundations on which to build their lives.”
A part from the young Catholics and believers,
Cardinal Rylko hopes to establish a dialogue with non believers during
the World Youth Day and encourage them to join in the event: “The
Holy Father would like all youngsters, whether they share in the belief
in Jesus Christ or hesitant, doubtful and do not believe in Him, to live
this experience which could prove to be a turning point int heir lives:
the experience of the Lord who was resurrected and lives on, and his
love for each and every one of us.” During these 25 years of
history, the days have become extremely efficient instruments in the
evangelisation of youngsters, the protagonists of which are the
youngsters themselves. The Blessed John Paul II liked to define WYD as a
laboratory of young faith.”
The Indignados protest
From the proposal and hope of a big celebration of
faith, to the anger of a Spanish and European generation that feels
ever more excluded, without a role to play in contemporary society.
The
movement that is crossing the Old Continent is sending out messages to
political and financial leaders to give the new generations the
opportunity to grow and become adults through employment, research,
freedom, a guaranteed future.
For them, WYD will be the stage for an
unforgettable opportunity to express their anger and they are
preparing a number of demonstrations throughout Benedict XVI’s visit,
which will be taking place between 18 and 21 August.
The Spanish daily newspaper El País said the
initiative of the Indignados would be phenomenal and not in any way
lenient towards the Pope.
Demonstrators are allegedly preparing a “Via
Crucis riddled with demands,” they are setting up information points in
the places where the pilgrims will meet, and are also organising a
demonstration which is meant to take place during the WYD inauguration
mass which is due to take place in the Plaza de Cibeles.
The “indignados”, the newspaper wrote, have also
contacted members of other lay and feminist associations that are
critical of the Pope’s visit, in an attempt to “join forces” in
organising these demonstrations.
On 2 August, Spanish police evacuated
the “indignados” that had been camping in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol area
and the city centre.
The demonstrators claimed the operation was aimed
at “cleaning out the square” for Benedict XVI’s visit, and protested by
throwing balloons, soap bubbles and paper aeroplanes.