World Youth Day in Madrid was an impressive gathering. I heard it referred to as the “Catholic Olympics” due to its magnitude and international scope. Here are some official statistics from the event: two million participants, 93 countries represented, 18,000 police officers on duty, 30,000 volunteers, 14,000 priests, 800 bishops, 5,000 journalists, 50 million dollar cost paid by participant fees, corporate sponsors and private donations, an estimated 200 million dollars injected into the Spanish economy and a closing Mass with a congregation the size of 48 soccer fields.
Unfortunately the mainstream media has chosen mostly to focus on the 5,000 protesters to the Pope’s presence in Spain during economic hardship and the lie that tax money is funding World Youth Day. This may be because the media usually goes for what is sensational and sells. I find the fact that two million youth attended the Pope’s closing Mass in a very secularized country much more sensational. It goes against mainstream European society today.
World Youth Day stands as a counterpoint to the recent riots by youth in London. A society without Christ falls apart in despair and disorder. A society with Christ grows, prospers and has hope in the future. The Pope encouraged the youth to be rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, and firm in the faith, words taken from Saint Paul’s letter to the Colossians. World Youth Day reminds us that the Church is young, that the Church is relevant today and that in Christ there is great hope for the future.
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