Bishop predicts World Youth Day's positive impact on Madrid

Madrid, Spain, Aug 30, 2010 / 15:50 pm

The general coordinator of World Youth Day 2011, Bishop Cesar Franco, said last week that the presence of thousands of young people on pilgrimage toward God, will have a great impact on Madrid.

Speaking to the media, Bishop Franco emphasized the importance of World Youth Day events and noted that “the holy scent of Christ” remains behind in the cities that host the event. “It is a common experience for the people, even those who are not believers, to be impacted by the joy of the young people, by their good actions.”

“Naturally these are young people with virtues as well as defects, but they come as pilgrims in search of what gives meaning to man’s life: God, Christ, eternal life,” he said.

Bishop Franco expressed his desire that the Church in Spain would be strengthened by the event, as wherever World Youth Day is held. “The Church has regained confidence in herself, vocations to the priesthood and religious life are reborn and the myth that young people don’t care about Christ or His Church evaporates.”

He went on to reaffirm the importance that the Church gives to young people, since they “are the future in all areas of life, as well as in the Church.”

Bishop Franco encouraged young people to participate because “with your presence the Church is younger.” He said young people would experience the universality of the Church and would strengthen their faith.