Benedict XVI: Church Can Be Hopeful for Tomorrow

Benedict XVI says World Youth Day showed that the Church can rejoice in today's youth and be hope-filled for the world of tomorrow. 

Benedict XVI had a special word of gratitude for the host families who received pilgrims into their homes. "You have opened your doors and your hearts to the world's youth and on their behalf I thank you," he said.

"The principal actors on the stage over these last few days have been the young people themselves, "World Youth Day” is their day. It is they who have made this a global ecclesial event, a great celebration of youth and a great celebration of what it is to be the Church.

"I thank them for coming and for their participation. I pray that they will have a safe journey home. I know that the young people, their families and their sponsors have in many cases made great sacrifices to enable them to travel to Australia. For this the entire Church is grateful." Benedict XVI said the days of this last week were "stirring" and he said that many scenes stand out in his mind.

"The Stations of the Cross in the streets of Sydney were a powerful reminder that Christ loved us 'to the end' " the Holy Father continued.

Referring to his meeting with youth who have histories of drug addiction and other problems, the Pontiff said: "The meeting with the young people at Darlinghurst was a moment of joy and great hope, a sign that Christ can lift us out of the most difficult situations, restoring our dignity and enabling us to look forward to a brighter future."

The Southern Cross Precinct was the site of the Saturday evening vigil and Sunday closing Mass with some 400,000 people.

"Those experiences of prayer, and our joyful celebration of the Eucharist, were an eloquent testimony to the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit, present and active in the hearts of our young people," he said. "World Youth Day has shown us that the Church can rejoice in the young people of today and be filled with hope for the world of tomorrow."

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The 23rd World Youth Day in Sydney was a "wonderful experience" !

"During these days we have been able to witness at first hand the joy that so many thousands of young people find in their faith, and we have been able to offer praise and thanksgiving to God for his goodness to us, the Pope said”

"Your efforts have prepared the ground for the Spirit to come down in power, forging bonds of unity and friendship among young people, and rekindling their love for Jesus Christ and his Church." The youth represented the Catholicism of the Church. "In the power of the Spirit, may these young people make that vision a reality in the world of tomorrow."

Australians are more spiritual than they thought”, says Anthony Fisher bishop of Sydney.

There was an overwhelmingly positive response to key events, including the 250,000 who cheered Benedict XVI through Sydney's streets after he arrived to a crowd of 150,000 at a disused shipping port, Barangaroo.

“We often talk of Australia as being a secular country, as if the view that religion has to be privatized or abolished has won, but the day the Pope arrived, I was astonished.”

Bishop Fisher said he believes it will be Australia's youth that will reinvigorate both the social and spiritual life of Australia.

"There are so many people newly committed to working with young people, who will be leading and serving the Church, some of which is unpredictable.

A variety of Sydney citizens were transformed into pilgrims, drawn by the positive spirit of the Australian and international guests, the prelate noted.

"Train and bus drivers have asked to take extra shifts because they love being part of this; policemen have told me that they've been thanked by people on the streets for the first time in their lives," Bishop Fisher said. Tthey became pilgrims too, sharing the experience." 

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Organizers Say That They're “Thrilled”!

After a week-long celebration throughout Sydney, local World Youth Day organizers say they are thrilled with a final Mass attendance of more than 400,000 people at Randwick Racecourse on Sunday. This is certainly the largest Catholic Mass ever celebrated in our country."

After over 200,000 pilgrims slept overnight at the venue following the evening vigil with the Pope, hundreds of thousands arrived the next morning for Sunday's Mass, the final official activity on the program.

"All Sydney, and not just Catholic Sydney, has taken the pilgrims to their hearts. Pilgrims have told me personally how Sydneysiders, often not Catholics, have gone out of their way to help, such as the Islamic school which provided accommodation for a significant group from the U.S.A."

Kilometer after kilometer of excited young adults, youngsters too, running and waving behind the crowds, trying to keep up. It was a tonic.

They are days to remember.

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Card. Maradiaga: “Youth Day Isn't Catholic Woodstock”

With songs (the cardinal also plays the saxophone) and jokes, the Honduran prelate spoke to the youth about the necessity of witnessing to their faith in the world.

"The Lord urgently calls us to be witnesses of his Gospel," he said.

Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga told the young people that World Youth Day "is not a Catholic Woodstock without drugs and alcohol, like some say, but rather a testimony of the Holy Spirit."

He thus urged the youth to use the Sydney event as a springboard helping them to return to their homes and give testimony of their faith in their daily lives. For this, the cardinal said, big things aren't necessary, but rather doing what should be done in each moment, being faithful to Christ. "Let's not put shackles on the Holy Spirit," he added, "so that he can make of us true works of art."

The cardinal also recalled the example of St. John Bosco, who said, "sadness and melancholy -- not under my roof." Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga explained that one who lives with the grace of God live authentic joy, while one who lives in sin, lives with sadness. "Have you noticed how sad the world is? Well, that's our mission, to irradiate joy, because the world lives in sadness and needs joy." 

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After Youth Day, What Now?

God Squad, a ministry dedicated to evangelizing through the media, has a solution for Youth Day pilgrims eager to stay in touch with new friends they met in Sydney.

The Web site WYDChallenge.com aims to provide a forum for pilgrims to stay connected by way of service projects. God Squad Communications, its sponsor, is based out of the Archdiocese of Miami.

"Registered pilgrims will receive monthly community service challenges that will have them involved in a variety of activities in their local diocese. Challenges can include donating their time at a local hospital, organizing a food drive, or using their talents for simple acts of kindness. Our global partner organizations will also sponsor some of our challenges.

"God Squad projects are "a concrete way for our registered pilgrims to witness to the world with the power they’ve received from the Holy Spirit."
Pilgrims can share their photos or video with fellow youth dayers on the site.

WYDChallenge.com will include a monthly leader board that will track which pilgrims have completed the most community service hours that month as they take on our challenge. Those registered pilgrims at the top of our monthly leader board each month will qualify for a chance to win a trip to the next World Youth Day.
        
Pilgrims will be able to keep in touch by messaging each other through the site, leaving comments on each other’s profiles, sharing prayer requests, chatting in our community room, and a multitude of other methods of communication that we are developing."