Vatican Radio: WYD: no “flash in the pan” but extraordinary instrument for evangelisation

Spain has welcomed young people from around the world to its 68 dioceses, while in the capital Madrid finishing touches are being put to the centres for catechism, prayer and reflection that will be held by 270 bishops from around the world in 30 languages.

WYD Madrid 2011 promises to be "a kind of Pentecost", for a Europe plagued by a deepening crisis and a nation in need of renewal, in the words of Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, one of the main organisers of all 26 editions of the global Catholic youth gathering:

“World Youth Day in Madrid is very close now. An important ecclesial event, for the youth of the Church, a fascinating testimony of faith, full of enthusiasm and missionary zeal. The world today - especially Europe - is in urgent need of such testimony. Nevertheless, the fruits of each World Youth Day in the life of young people depend on how they prepare for the event and how they follow up on it in the ordinary youth ministry of the diocese. If these elements are missing, you run the risk that the WYD experience becomes e a proverbial "flash in the pan"! Pope Benedict XVI insists that every World Youth Day should mark a new beginning for youth ministry ... And fortunately this awareness continues to mature in the lives of many local churches. World Youth Days have now become an integral part of the pastoral care of the Church towards the younger generations”.

“The post-modern world is going through a difficult and deep crisis. Relativism creates a dangerous vacuum of common values ​​and meaning. The post-modern culture is a "liquid" culture with no fixed points of reference and - consequently - produces rootless people, who are deprived of safe and sound foundations in their lives ... In this situation, especially among young people, there is a growing need to find real roots in their human and Christian identity, for a foundation on which to build their lives. And the World Youth Day in Madrid aims to be a clear and persuasive answer to those needs of people today: that the foundation exists and is a living Person who has a name, Jesus Christ!”

“Spain is like a vast laboratory where the serious problems and challenges of post-modernity have manifested themselves with particular force. Such as the phenomenon of secularization, the trends towards a radical secularism, the laws of the State which are clearly opposed to natural law (the right to life, the nature of marriage and the family) ... and even the serious problem of the economic crisis, such as youth unemployment, which is constantly on the increase... Without doubt, Spanish society is hungry for hope, it urgently wants to find prospects for the future ... And in this very challenging environment today, the Church of Spain - thanks to World Youth Day - is called to rediscover its prophetic vocation and a new evangelistic courage”.

Photo: Vatican Radio