La Croix: Beyond the Emotion

Very rough translation:

In asking a dozen young people, present in Madrid, to send to "La Croix" a letter to a relative or a friend, sometimes a non-believer, who had remained in their home country, we had imagined that these missives would evoke the atmosphere of WYD, the events themselves, or the people encountered. But no. What is striking is that they speak of faith. With profoundness, but also with remarkable and touching simplicity. They describe an encounter more or less, not with the Pope, but with Christ.

This generation is not as discreet as their elders, who are habituated to guarding their religious convictions in their inmost hearts, wary of speaking about or demonstrating their beliefs. These last are apt to feel uncomfortable or shrug their shoulders at a faith they consider too "emotional": meaning superficial... But do not be transfixed by appearances.

First, in a world of global communications, one "says" more. Religion is no exception to this rule of an uninhibited generation. Next, the less self-evident it is that one is a believer, the more necessary it is to demonstrate and to speak. Finally, do not be deceived: this faith, the commitments expressed here, are the fruit of a long work, a maturation, often thanks to officials and communities who have not skimped these last years on creativity in understanding and appealing to the young.

On the topic of WYD, Benedict XVI cited in 2008 a phrase from Friedrich Nietzsche: “The important thing is not to be able to organize a party but to find people who can enjoy it”. Finding these people, and preparing for WYD, is the fruit of long and patient work, which is not only based on emotion, even if, today, emotion is evident. " Just as a long journey precedes the celebration of World Youth Day, a continuing journey follows it," continues the pope in the same discourse, "Friendships are formed which encourage a different way of life and which give it deep support. The purpose of these great Days is, not least, to inspire such friendships and so to create places of living faith in the world, places which are, at the same time, settings of hope and practical charity."

The article in the original French can be found here