! From his heart to yours… ! The!words!of!Pope!Benedict!XVI! World!Youth!Day!Madrid! August!18!A!21,!2011! ! ! ! INTERVIEW(OF(THE(HOLY(FATHER(BENEDICT(XVI(( integrity,!and!to!invite!them!to!celebrate!the!sacraments!by!which!he!gives!us!a! WITH(THE(JOURNALISTS(DURING(THE(FLIGHT(TO(MADRID! share!in!his!own!life.! ! Your!Majesty,!before!returning!to!Rome,!I!would!like!to!assure!the!people!of!Spain!of! Papal!Flight! my!constant!prayers,!especially!for!married!couples!and!families!who!are!facing! Thursday,!18!August!2011! various!kinds!of!difficulties,!the!needy!and!the!infirm,!the!elderly!and!children,!as! !!! well!as!those!who!have!no!work.!I!pray!in!particular!of!the!young!people!of!Spain.!I! Fr(Federico(Lombardi,(SJ:!Holy!Father,!we!have!come!to!the!26th!World!Youth!Day,! am!sure!that!they!will!contribute!the!best!they!have!to!offer!through!their!faith!in! the!12th!to!be!celebrated!with!an!important!world!meeting.!John!Paul!II,!who! Christ,!so!that!this!great!country!can!face!the!challenges!of!the!present!hour!and!can! invented!the!Youth!Days,!is!now!Blessed!and!is!the!official!Patron!of!this!World!Youth! continue!along!the!paths!of!peace,!solidarity,!justice!and!freedom.!Along!with!these! Day!in!Madrid.!At!the!beginning!of!your!Pontificate!people!wondered!whether!you! intentions,!I!entrust!the!sons!and!daughters!of!this!noble!land!to!the!intercession!of! would!continue!along!the!same!lines!as!your!Predecessor.!This!is!now!your!third! the!Virgin!Mary,!our!heavenly!Mother,!and!to!them!all!I!willingly!impart!my!blessing.! World!Youth!Day,!after!Cologne!and!Sydney.!How!do!you!view!the!significance!of! May!the!joy!of!the!Lord!always!fill!your!hearts.!Thank!you.! these!events!in!the!pastoral!“strategy”!of!the!universal!Church!in!the!third! ! millennium?! ! ! The(Holy(Father:(Dear!friends,!good!morning!!I!am!glad!to!be!going!to!Spain!with!you! for!this!great!event.!After!personally!experiencing!two!WYDs,!I!can!only!say! that!Pope!John!Paul!II!was!truly!inspired!when!he!created!this!important!meeting!of! young!people!and!of!the!world!with!the!Lord.! I!would!say!that!these!World!Youth!Days!are!a!sign,!a!cascade!of!light;!they!give! visibility!to!the!faith!and!to!God’s!presence!in!the!world,!and!thus!create!the!courage! to!be!believers.!Believers!often!feel!isolated!in!this!world,!almost!lost.!Here!they!see! that!they!are!not!alone,!that!there!is!a!great!network!of!faith,!a!great!community!of! believers!in!the!world,!that!it!is!beautiful!to!live!in!this!universal!friendship.!And!thus,! it!seems!to!me,!friendships!are!born,!friendships!beyond!the!confines!of!different! cultures!and!different!countries.!And!this!birth!of!a!universal!network!of!friendship! that!links!the!world!and!God,!is!an!important!reality!for!the!future!of!humanity,!for! the!life!of!humanity!today.! Naturally,!the!WYD!cannot!be!an!isolated!event;!it!is!part!of!a!larger!process,!it! should!be!prepared!for!by!this!journey!of!the!Cross!that!transmigrates!to!different! countries!and!already!unites!young!people!in!the!sign!of!the!cross!and!in!the! marvellous!sign!of!Our!Lady.!So!it!is!that!the!preparation!for!the!World!Youth!Day!is! of!course!far!more!than!the!technical!plan!for!an!event!with!a!great!many!technical! hitches;!it!is!an!inner!preparation,!a!starting!out!towards!others,!together!towards! God.!Then,!later,!the!foundation!of!groups!of!friends!follows,!preserving!this! universal!contact!that!opens!the!boundaries!between!cultures,!between!human!and! religious!differences,!hence!it!is!a!continuous!journey!that!leads!subsequently!to!a! new!summit,!to!a!new!World!Youth!Day.!It!seems!to!me,!in!this!sense,!that!the!World! Youth!Day!should!be!seen!as!a!sign,!as!part!of!a!great!journey;!it!creates!friendships,! Coordinator,!Monsignor!César!Augusto!Franco!Martinez,!and!the!many!generous! opens!frontiers!and!makes!visible!the!beauty!of!our!being!with!God!and!of!God’s! members!of!his!staff.!The!Bishops!worked!generously!and!diligently!in!their!Dioceses! being!with!us.!In!this!regard,!let!us!continue!to!implement!Bl.!Pope!John!Paul!II's! to!prepare!for!the!celebrations,!together!with!their!priests,!consecrated!persons!and! important!idea.! the!lay!faithful.!To!all!I!express!my!gratitude!and!I!pray!that!the!Lord!will!bless!your! ! apostolic!labors.! Fr(Federico(Lombardi,(SJ:!Your!Holiness,!times!are!changing.!Europe!and!the!Western! Nor!can!I!fail!to!offer!heartfelt!thanks!to!the!young!people!for!having!come!to!the! world!in!general!are!going!through!a!profound!economic!crisis!which!is!also!showing! World!Youth!Day!and!for!their!joyful,!enthusiastic!and!intense!presence.!To!them!I! dimensions!of!serious!social!and!moral!hardship!and!great!uncertainty!for!the!future! say!thank!you,!and!I!congratulate!you!for!the!witness!which!you!gave!in!Madrid!and! which!is!becoming!particularly!acute!for!young!people.!In!the!past!few!days!we!have! in!the!other!cities!of!Spain!in!which!you!stayed.!Now!I!ask!you!to!spread!throughout! seen,!for!example,!what!happened!in!Great!Britain!when!rebellion!and! the!world!the!profound!and!joyful!experience!of!faith!which!you!had!here!in!this! aggressiveness!were!unleashed.!At!the!same!time!there!are!signs!of!generous!and! noble!country.!Share!your!joy!especially!with!those!who!would!have!liked!to!come! enthusiastic!commitment,!of!voluntary!service!and!of!solidarity,!of!young!believers! but!were!unable!to!do!so!for!various!reasons,!with!all!those!who!were!praying!for! and!nonRbelievers!alike.!In!Madrid!we!shall!meet!a!large!number!of!marvellous!young! you!and!with!all!those!whose!hearts!were!touched!by!these!celebrations.!By!your! people.!What!message!of!hope!can!the!Church!provide!to!encourage!youth! closeness!and!your!witness,!help!your!friends!to!discover!that!loving!Christ!means! throughout!the!world,!especially!those!who!feel!discouraged!today!and!are!tempted! living!life!to!the!full.! to!rebel?! I!leave!Spain!very!happy!and!grateful!to!everyone.!But!above!all!I!am!grateful!to!God,! ! our!Lord,!who!allowed!me!to!celebrate!these!days!so!filled!with!enthusiasm!and! The(Holy(Father:(It!is!this.!In!the!current!economic!crisis!what!formerly!appeared!in! grace,!so!charged!with!dynamism!and!hope.!The!feast!of!faith!which!we!have!shared! the!previous!great!crisis!has!been!confirmed:!namely,!that!the!ethical!dimension!is! enables!us!to!look!forward!with!great!confidence!in!Providence,!which!guides!the! not!alien!to!economic!problems!but!an!internal!and!fundamental!dimension!of!them.! Church!across!the!seas!of!history.!That!is!why!she!continues!to!be!young!and!full!of! The!economy!does!not!function!with!a!selfAregulation!of!the!market!alone,!but!it! life,!even!as!she!confronts!challenging!situations.!This!is!the!work!of!the!Holy!Spirit,! needs!an!ethical!reason!if!it!is!to!function!for!man.!And!once!again!Pope!John!II’s! who!makes!Jesus!Christ!present!in!the!hearts!of!young!people!in!every!age!and! words!in!his!first!social!Encyclical!become!apparent:!man!must!be!the!centre!of!the! shows!them!the!grandeur!of!the!divine!vocation!given!to!every!man!and!woman.!We! economy!and!the!economy!cannot!be!measured!according!to!the!maxim!of!profit!but! were!also!able!to!see!how!the!grace!of!Christ!tears!down!the!walls!and!overcomes! rather!according!to!the!common!good!of!all,!that!it!implies!responsibility!for!others! the!barriers!which!sin!erects!between!peoples!and!generations,!in!order!to!make!all! and!only!really!functions!well!if!it!functions!humanly,!with!respect!for!others.!And! mankind!a!single!family!which!acknowledges!its!one!Father!and!which!cultivates,!by! with!the!different!dimensions:!responsibility!for!one's!own!nation!and!not!only!for! work!and!respect,!all!that!he!has!given!us!in!creation.! oneself;!responsibility!for!the!world!—!even!a!nation!is!not!isolated,!even!Europe!is! Young!people!readily!respond!when!one!proposes!to!them,!in!sincerity!and!truth,!an! not!isolated!but!is!responsible!for!the!whole!of!humanity!and!must!always!think! encounter!with!Jesus!Christ,!the!one!Redeemer!of!humanity.!!Now!those!young! about!economic!problems!in!this!key!of!responsibility!for!the!other!parts!of!the!world! people!are!returning!home!as!missionaries!of!the!Gospel,!“rooted!and!built!up!in! too,!for!all!who!suffer,!who!thirst!and!hunger,!who!have!no!future.!And!so!—!a!third! Christ,!and!firm!in!the!faith”,!and!they!will!need!to!be!helped!on!their!way.!!So!I!urge! dimension!of!this!responsibility!—!is!responsibility!for!the!future.! Bishops,!priests,!Religious!and!Christian!educators!in!particular,!to!care!for!those! We!know!we!must!protect!our!planet!but,!all!things!considered,!we!must!protect!a! young!people!who!want!to!respond!enthusiastically!to!the!Lord’s!call.!!There!is!no! functional!service!of!employment!for!everyone!and!realize!that!tomorrow!is!also! reason!to!lose!heart!in!the!face!of!the!various!obstacles!we!encounter!in!some! today.!If!today’s!young!people!have!no!prospects!in!life!then!our!own!life!today!is! countries.!!The!yearning!for!God!which!the!Creator!has!placed!in!the!hearts!of!young! misguided!and!“wrong”.!Therefore!the!Church,!with!her!social!doctrine,!with!her! people!is!more!powerful!than!all!of!these,!as!is!the!power!from!on!high!which!gives! doctrine!on!responsibility!to!God,!proposes!the!readiness!to!give!up!the!maxim!of! divine!strength!to!those!who!follow!the!Master!and!who!seek!in!him!nourishment!for! profit!and!to!see!things!in!the!humanistic!and!religious!dimension:!in!other!words! life.!!Do!not!be!afraid!to!present!to!young!people!the!message!of!Jesus!Christ!in!all!its! existing!for!each!other.!Thus!new!ways!can!also!be!found.!The!throngs!of!volunteers! who!are!working!in!various!parts!of!the!world,!not!for!themselves!but!for!others,!and! who!thereby!find!the!meaning!of!life,!show!that!it!is!possible!to!do!this!and!that!an! DEPARTURE(CEREMONY( education!in!these!great!goals,!such!as!the!Church!tries!to!provide,!is!fundamental! ! for!our!future.! International!Airport!of!Madrid!Barajas! ! Sunday,!21!August!2011! Fr(Federico(Lombardi,(SJ:!Youth!today!generally!live!in!multicultural!and! !! multidenominational!milieus.!Reciprocal!tolerance!is!more!necessary!than!ever.!You! ! stress!the!importance!of!truth.!Do!you!not!think!that!this!insistence!on!truth!and!on! Your!Majesties,! the!one!Truth!which!is!Christ!is!a!problem!for!the!young!today?!Don't!you!think!that! Distinguished!National,!Autonomous!Regional!and!Local!Authorities,! this!insistence!might!lead!to!opposition!and!to!difficulty!in!dialogue!and!in!seeking! Your!Eminence!the!Archbishop!of!Madrid!and!President!of!the!Spanish!Episcopal! together!with!others?! Conference,! ! Your!Eminences!and!Dear!Brother!Bishops,! The(Holy(Father:(The!connection!between!truth!and!intolerance,!monotheism!and! Dear!Friends,! the!incapacity!for!dialogue!with!others!is!a!subject!that!recurs!frequently!in!the! The!time!has!come!for!us!to!say!goodAbye.!These!days!spent!in!Madrid,!in!the! discussion!on!Christianity!today.!And,!of!course,!it!is!true!that!in!history!there!have! company!of!so!many!young!people!from!Spain!and!from!throughout!the!world,!will! been!instances!of!abuse,!both!of!the!concept!of!truth!and!of!the!concept!of! remain!deeply!etched!in!my!mind!and!heart.! monotheism;!but!there!has!been!abuse.!The!reality!is!totally!different.!The! Your!Majesty,!the!Pope!felt!at!home!in!Spain!!And!the!young!people!who!were!the! hypothesis!is!erroneous!because!truth!is!only!accessible!in!freedom.!It!is!possible!to! heart!of!this!World!Youth!Day!found!a!warm!welcome!here!and!in!the!many!cities! impose!forms!of!conduct,!observance!or!activity!with!violence,!but!not!truth!! and!towns!of!the!country,!which!they!were!able!to!visit!in!the!days!before!these! Truth!is!only!open!to!freedom,!to!free!consent,!and!therefore!freedom!and!truth!are! celebrations.! closely!tied,!the!one!is!a!condition!for!the!other.!Besides,!there!is!no!alternative!to! I!thank!Your!Majesty!for!your!gracious!words!and!for!your!presence!at!my!arrival!in! seeking!the!truth,!the!true!values!that!give!life!and!a!future:!we!do!not!want! Spain!and!now!at!my!departure.!I!thank!the!national,!autonomous!regional!and!local! falsehood,!we!do!not!want!the!positivism!of!norms!imposed!with!a!certain!force;! authorities!for!the!helpfulness!and!understanding!which!they!showed!before!this! true!values!alone!lead!to!the!future;!and!let!us!say!that!it!is!therefore!necessary!to! international!event.!I!also!thank!the!thousands!of!volunteers!who!ensured!the! seek!true!values!and!not!to!permit!the!arbitrariness!of!the!few,!not!to!let!a!positivist! orderly!unfolding!of!the!many!activities!of!this!meeting:!the!various!literary,!musical,! reason!be!established!which!tells!us,!concerning!ethical!problems,!the!great! cultural!and!religious!events!of!the!Festival!joven,!the!catecheses!given!by!the! problems!of!humanity:!that!there!is!no!rational!truth.!This!would!really!be!exposing! Bishops!and!the!main!events!in!the!presence!of!the!Successor!of!Peter.!I!thank!the! man!to!the!will!of!those!in!power.!We!must!always!be!in!search!of!the!truth,!of!true! police!and!security!forces,!and!all!those!who!helped!by!providing!a!wide!variety!of! values;!we!have!a!nucleus!in!the!fundamental!values,!in!human!rights;!other!similar! services:!from!the!music!and!the!liturgy!to!the!details!of!transportation,!health!care! fundamental!elements!are!recognized!and!precisely!these!put!us!in!dialogue!with! and!meals.! one!another.!The!truth!as!such!is!dialogical!because!it!seeks!to!know!better,!to! Spain!is!a!great!nation!whose!soundly!open,!pluralistic!and!respectful!society!is! understand!better!and!does!so!in!dialogue!with!others.!Thus,!seeking!the!truth!and! capable!of!moving!forward!without!surrendering!its!profoundly!religious!and!Catholic! the!dignity!of!the!human!being!is!the!greatest!guarantee!of!freedom.! soul.!In!these!days,!it!once!more!made!this!clear,!revealing!its!technical!and!human! ! resources!in!the!service!of!an!undertaking!of!immense!consequence!and!promise:! Fr(Federico(Lombardi,(SJ:!The!World!Youth!Days!are!a!beautiful!interlude!and!give! that!of!helping!young!people!to!become!more!deeply!rooted!in!Jesus!Christ,!our! rise!to!great!enthusiasm,!but!the!young!people!then!go!home!and!find!a!world!in! Saviour.! which!religious!practice!is!rapidly!diminishing.!Many!of!them!will!probably!not!be! A!particular!word!of!gratitude!is!due!to!the!organizers!of!World!Youth!Day:!to!the! seen!again!in!church.!How!can!the!fruits!of!the!World!Youth!Days!be!ensured!in!the! Cardinal!President!of!the!Pontifical!Council!for!the!Laity!and!all!the!personnel!of!that! future?!Do!you!think!the!Days!effectively!produce!fruits!that!last!longer!than!the! Office,!to!the!Archbishop!of!Madrid,!Cardinal!Antonio!María!Rouco!Varela,!his! momentary!bursts!of!enthusiasm?! Auxiliary!Bishops!and!the!whole!Archdiocese,!and!in!particular!to!the!General! my!whole!life!in!the!mission!to!proclaim!to!the!world!the!greatness!of!his!love! The(Holy(Father:(God!always!sows!in!silence.!The!results!are!not!immediately! through!the!priesthood,!or!the!consecrated!life,!or!marriage?!If!this!question!has! apparent!in!the!statistics.!And!the!seed!the!Lord!scatters!on!the!ground!with!the! surfaced,!let!the!Lord!be!your!guide!and!become!volunteers!in!the!service!of!the!One! World!Youth!Days!is!like!the!seed!of!which!he!speaks!in!the!Gospel:!some!seeds!fell! who!“came!not!to!be!served!but!to!serve,!and!to!give!his!life!a!ransom!for!many”! along!the!path!and!were!lost;!some!fell!on!rocky!ground!and!were!lost,!some!fell! (Mk10:45).!Your!life!will!achieve!fulfillment!in!ways!you!cannot!imagine.!Perhaps! upon!thorns!and!were!lost;!but!other!seeds!fell!on!good!soil!and!brought!forth! some!of!you!are!thinking:!the!Pope!came!to!thank!us!and!here!he!is!asking!us!for! abundant!fruit.! something!more!!You!are!right.!But!that!is!the!mission!of!the!Pope,!the!Successor!of! It!is!exactly!like!this!with!the!sowing!of!the!WYDs:!a!great!deal!is!lost!—!and!this!is! Peter.!After!all,!Peter,!in!his!First!Letter,!reminds!Christians!that!they!were!ransomed! human.!To!borrow!other!words!from!the!Lord:!the!mustard!seed!was!small,!but!it! at!a!great!price:!that!of!the!blood!of!Christ!(cf.!1!Pet!1:18A19).!Those!who!look!at!their! grew!and!became!a!great!tree.!And!with!yet!other!words:!of!course,!a!great!deal!is! lives!from!this!perspective!know!that!Christ’s!love!can!only!be!met!with!love.!That!is! lost,!we!cannot!say!straight!away!that!there!will!be!an!immense!growth!of!the! what!the!Pope!is!asking!you!to!do!in!this!farewell:!to!respond!in!love!to!the!One!who! Church!tomorrow.!God!does!not!act!in!this!way.!However,!the!Church!grows!in! for!love!gave!himself!up!for!us.!Once!again,!I!thank!all!of!you.!May!God!be!ever!at! silence!and!vigorously.!I!know!from!other!World!Youth!Days!that!a!great!many! your!side!! friendships!were!born,!friendships!for!life;!a!great!many!experiences!that!God!exists.! ! And!let!us!place!trust!in!this!silent!growth,!and!we!may!be!certain,!even!if!the! ! statistics!do!not!tell!us!much,!that!the!Lord’s!seed!really!grows!and!will!be!for!very! ! ! many!people!the!beginning!of!a!friendship!with!God!and!with!others,!of!a! universality!of!thought,!of!a!common!responsibility!which!really!shows!us!that!these! days!do!bear!fruit.!Many!thanks!! ! ! ( ( WELCOME(CEREMONY( MEETING(WITH(WYD(VOLUNTEERS( ! ! International!Airport!of!Madrid!Barajas! Pavilion!9!of!the!new!Fair!of!MadridRIFEMA! Thursday,!18!August!2011! Sunday,!21!August!2011! ! ! Your!Majesties,! ! Your!Eminence!the!Archbishop!of!Madrid,!! Dear!Volunteers,! Your!Eminences,!! As!the!events!of!this!unforgettable!World!Youth!Day!draw!to!a!close,!I!wanted!to! Dear!Brother!Bishops!and!Priests,! come!here,!before!my!return!to!Rome,!to!thank!you!personally!for!all!your!invaluable! Distinguished!National,!Autonomous!Regional!and!Local!Authorities,! help.!It!is!both!a!matter!of!justice!and!a!heartfelt!duty.!A!matter!of!justice!because,! Dear!Brothers!and!Sisters!of!Madrid!and!of!all!Spain,! thanks!to!your!cooperation,!the!young!pilgrims!enjoyed!a!warm!welcome!and!were! ! assisted!in!their!every!need.!Your!service!gave!World!Youth!Day!a!face!of!kindness,! I!am!grateful!to!Your!Majesty!for!your!presence!together!with!the!Queen,!and!for!the! friendship!and!neighborly!concern.! kind!and!deferential!words!with!which!you!welcomed!me,!reviving!in!me!the! My!gratitude!is!also!a!heartfelt!duty,!not!only!because!you!were!so!attentive!to!the! unforgettable!gestures!of!kindness!which!I!received!during!my!previous!Apostolic! pilgrims,!but!also!to!the!Pope,!to!me!!At!every!event!in!which!I!took!part,!you!were! Journeys!to!Spain,!and!most!particularly!during!my!recent!Visit!to!Santiago!de! there:!some!were!highly!visible,!while!others!stayed!in!the!background,!helping!to! Compostela!and!Barcelona.!I!greet!very!cordially!those!of!you!gathered!here!at! ensure!that!everything!took!place!in!an!orderly!fashion.!I!also!want!to!mention!all!the! Barajas!and!those!of!you!following!this!event!on!radio!and!television.!A!very!grateful! effort!that!went!into!preparing!for!these!days.!All!the!sacrifices,!all!the!love.! greeting!also!goes!to!those!who,!with!such!commitment!and!dedication,!from!the! Everybody!did!his!or!her!best,!by!work!and!prayer,!to!weave,!stitch!by!stitch,!the! ecclesiastical!and!civil!spheres,!have!contributed!with!their!efforts!and!work!so!that! magnificent,!colorful!tapestry!of!this!World!Youth!Day.!Many!thanks!for!your! this!World!Youth!Day!in!Madrid!might!unfold!well!and!bring!forth!abundant!fruits.! dedicated!service.!I!am!grateful!for!this!great!sign!of!your!love.! With!all!my!heart!I!also!wish!to!recognize!the!hospitality!so!many!families,!parishes,! Many!of!you!had!to!give!up!participating!directly!in!the!events,!because!you!were! schools!and!other!institutions!which!have!welcomed!young!people!from!all!over!the! engaged!in!the!work!of!organization.!But!this!sacrifice!was!itself!a!beautiful!and! world,!firstly!in!various!regions!and!cities!of!Spain,!and!now!in!the!great! evangelical!way!to!take!part!in!the!celebrations:!you!gave!yourselves!to!others,!as! cosmopolitan!and!welcoming!city!of!Madrid.! Jesus!tells!us!to!do.!In!a!real!way!sense!you!brought!to!life!the!Lord’s!words:! I!have!come!here!to!meet!thousands!of!young!people!from!all!over!the!world,! “Whoever!wants!to!be!first!must!be!the!last!of!all!and!servant!of!all”!(Mk!9:35).!I!am! Catholics!committed!to!Christ!searching!for!the!truth!that!will!give!real!meaning!to! certain!that!your!experience!as!volunteers!has!enriched!all!of!you!in!your!Christian! their!existence.!I!come!as!the!Successor!of!Peter,!to!confirm!them!all!in!the!faith,! life,!which!in!the!end!is!a!service!to!love.!The!Lord!will!turn!all!the!weariness,!the! with!days!of!intense!pastoral!activity,!proclaiming!that!Jesus!Christ!is!the!way,!the! worries!and!the!burdens!of!these!days!into!a!source!of!growth!in!the!Christian! truth!and!the!life;!to!motivate!the!commitment!to!build!up!the!Kingdom!of!God!in! virtues:!patience,!meekness,!joy!in!selfAgiving!and!eagerness!to!do!God’s!will.!To!love! the!world!among!us;!to!exhort!young!people!to!know!Christ!personally!as!a!friend! means!to!serve,!and!service!increases!love.!For!me,!this!is!one!of!the!finest!fruits!of! and!so,!rooted!in!his!person,!to!become!faithful!followers!and!valiant!witnesses.! your!contribution!to!World!Youth!Day.!But!you!will!not!be!the!only!ones!who!reap! Why!has!this!multitude!of!young!people!come!to!Madrid?!While!they!themselves! this!harvest:!the!whole!Church,!as!a!mystery!of!communion,!is!enriched!by!the! should!give!the!reply,!it!may!be!supposed!that!they!wish!to!hear!the!word!of!God,!as! contribution!of!each!of!her!members.! the!motto!for!this!World!Youth!Day!proposed!to!them,!in!such!a!way!that,!rooted! As!you!now!go!back!to!your!everyday!lives,!I!ask!you!to!treasure!this!joyAfilled! and!built!upon!Christ,!they!may!manifest!the!strength!of!their!faith.! experience!in!your!hearts!and!to!grow!each!day!in!giving!yourselves!to!God!and!to! Many!of!them!have!heard!the!voice!of!God,!perhaps!only!as!a!little!whisper,!which! others.!Perhaps!many!of!you!felt!a!very!simple!question!forming!in!your!hearts,! has!led!them!to!search!for!him!more!diligently!and!to!share!with!others!the! faintly!or!forcefully!as!the!case!may!be:!What!is!God!asking!me!to!do?!What!is!his! experience!of!the!force!which!he!has!in!their!lives.!The!discovery!of!the!living!God! plan!for!my!life?!Is!Christ!asking!me!to!follow!him!more!closely?!Should!I!not!spend! [French]!My!dear!young!people!of!the!FrenchAspeaking!world,!today!Christ!asks!you! inspires!young!people!and!opens!their!eyes!to!the!challenges!of!the!world!in!which! to!be!rooted!in!him!and!with!him,!to!build!your!lives!upon!him!who!is!our!rock.!He! they!live,!with!its!possibilities!and!limitations.!They!see!the!prevailing!superficiality,! sends!you!out!to!be!his!witnesses,!courageous!and!without!anxiety,!authentic!and! consumerism!and!hedonism,!the!widespread!banalization!of!sexuality,!the!lack!of! credible!!Do!not!be!afraid!to!be!Catholic,!and!to!be!witnesses!to!those!around!you!in! solidarity,!the!corruption.!They!know!that,!without!God,!it!would!be!hard!to!confront! simplicity!and!sincerity!!Let!the!Church!find!in!you!and!in!your!youthfulness!joyful! these!challenges!and!to!be!truly!happy,!and!thus!pouring!out!their!enthusiasm!in!the! missionaries!of!the!Good!News!of!salvation!! attainment!of!an!authentic!life.!But,!with!God!beside!them,!they!will!possess!light!to! [English]!I!greet!all!the!EnglishAspeaking!young!people!present!here!today!!As!you! walk!by!and!reasons!to!hope,!unrestrained!before!their!highest!ideals,!which!will! return!home,!take!back!with!you!the!good!news!of!Christ’s!love!which!we!have! motivate!their!generous!commitment!to!build!a!society!where!human!dignity!and! experienced!in!these!unforgettable!days.!Fix!your!eyes!upon!him,!deepen!your! true!brotherhood!are!respected.!Here!on!this!Day,!they!have!a!special!opportunity!to! knowledge!of!the!Gospel!and!bring!forth!abundant!fruit!!God!bless!all!of!you!until!we! gather!together!their!aspirations,!to!share!the!richness!of!their!cultures!and! meet!again!! experiences,!motivate!each!other!along!a!journey!of!faith!and!life,!in!which!some! [German]!My!dear!friends!!Faith!is!not!a!theory.!To!believe!is!to!enter!into!a!personal! think!they!are!alone!or!ignored!in!their!daily!existence.!But!they!are!not!alone.!Many! relationship!with!Jesus!and!to!live!in!friendship!with!him!in!fellowship!with!others,!in! people!of!the!same!age!have!the!same!aspirations!and,!entrusting!themselves! the!communion!of!the!Church.!Entrust!the!whole!of!your!lives!to!Christ!and!bring! completely!to!Christ,!know!that!they!really!have!a!future!before!them!and!are!not! your!friends!to!find!their!way!to!the!source!of!life,!to!God.!May!the!Lord!make!you! afraid!of!the!decisive!commitments!which!fulfill!their!entire!lives.!That!is!why!it!gives! happy!and!joyAfilled!witnesses!of!his!love.! me!great!joy!to!listen!to!them,!pray!with!them!and!celebrate!the!Eucharist!with! [Italian]!My!dear!young!Italians!!Greetings!to!all!of!you.!The!Eucharist!that!we!have! them.!World!Youth!Day!brings!us!a!message!of!hope!like!a!pure!and!youthful!breeze,! celebrated!is!the!risen!Christ!present!and!living!in!our!midst:!through!him,!your!lives! with!rejuvenating!scents!which!fill!us!with!confidence!before!the!future!of!the! are!rooted!and!built!upon!Christ,!strong!in!faith.!With!this!confidence,!depart!from! Church!and!the!world.! Madrid!and!tell!everyone!what!you!have!seen!and!heard.!Respond!with!joy!to!the! Of!course,!there!is!no!lack!of!difficulties.!There!are!tensions!and!ongoing!conflicts!all! Lord’s!call,!follow!him!and!remain!always!united!to!him:!you!will!bear!much!fruit!! over!the!world,!even!to!the!shedding!of!blood.!Justice!and!the!unique!value!of!the! [Portuguese]!Dear!PortugueseAspeaking!young!people!and!friends,!you!have!met! human!person!are!easily!surrendered!to!selfish,!material!and!ideological!interests.! Jesus!Christ!!You!will!be!swimming!against!the!tide!in!a!society!with!a!relativistic! Nature!and!the!environment,!created!by!God!with!so!much!love,!are!not!respected.! culture!which!wishes!neither!to!seek!nor!hold!on!to!the!truth.!But!it!was!for!this! Moreover,!many!young!people!look!worriedly!to!the!future,!as!they!search!for!work,! moment!in!history,!with!its!great!challenges!and!opportunities,!that!the!Lord!sent! or!because!they!have!lost!their!job!or!because!the!one!they!have!is!precarious!or! you,!so!that,!through!your!faith,!the!Good!News!of!Jesus!might!continue!to!resound! uncertain.!There!are!others!who!need!help!either!to!avoid!drugs!or!to!recover!from! throughout!the!earth.!I!hope!to!see!you!again!in!two!years’!time!at!the!nest!World! their!use.!There!are!even!some!who,!because!of!their!faith!in!Christ,!suffer! Youth!Day!in!Rio!de!Janeiro,!Brazil.!Till!then,!let!us!pray!for!each!other,!witnessing!to! discrimination!which!leads!to!contempt!and!persecution,!open!or!hidden,!which!they! the!joy!that!brings!forth!life,!rooted!in!and!built!upon!Christ.!Until!we!meet!again,!my! endure!in!various!regions!and!countries.!They!are!harassed!to!give!him!up,!depriving! dear!young!people!!God!bless!you!all!! them!of!the!signs!of!his!presence!in!public!life,!not!allowing!even!the!mention!of!his! [Polish]!Dear!young!Poles,!strong!in!the!faith,!rooted!in!Christ!!May!the!gifts!you!have! holy!name.!But,!with!all!my!heart,!I!say!again!to!you!young!people:!let!nothing!and! received!from!God!during!these!days!bear!in!you!abundant!fruit.!Be!his!witnesses.! no!one!take!away!your!peace;!do!not!be!ashamed!of!the!Lord.!He!did!not!spare! Take!to!others!the!message!of!the!Gospel.!With!your!prayers!and!example!of!life,! himself!in!becoming!one!like!us!and!in!experiencing!our!anguish!so!as!to!lift!it!up!to! help!Europe!to!rediscover!its!Christian!roots.! God,!and!in!this!way!he!saved!us.! ! In!this!regard,!the!young!followers!of!Jesus!must!be!aided!to!remain!firm!in!the!faith! ! ! and!to!embrace!the!beautiful!adventure!of!proclaiming!it!and!witnessing!to!it!openly! with!their!lives.!A!witness!that!is!courageous!and!full!of!love!for!their!brothers!and! sisters,!resolute!and!at!the!same!time!prudent,!without!hiding!its!Christian!identity,! living!together!with!other!legitimate!choices!in!a!spirit!of!respect!while!at!the!same! ANGELUS! time!demanding!due!respect!for!one’s!own!choices.! ! Your!Majesty,!as!I!reiterate!my!thanks!for!the!kind!welcome!which!you!gave!to!me,!I! Cuatro!Vientos!Air!Base,!Madrid!! in!turn!wish!to!express!my!esteem!for!and!nearness!to!all!the!peoples!of!Spain,!as! Sunday,!21!August!2011! well!as!my!admiration!for!a!country!so!rich!in!history!and!in!culture!through!the! ! vitality!of!its!faith,!which!has!borne!fruit!in!so!many!saints!over!the!centuries,!in! ! numerous!men!and!women!who,!leaving!their!native!land,!brought!the!Gospel!to! Dear!Friends,! every!corner!of!the!globe,!and!in!people!through!all!this!land!who!act!with!rectitude,! You!are!now!about!to!go!back!home.!Your!friends!will!want!to!know!how!you!have! solidarity!and!goodness.!It!is!a!great!treasure!which!should!be!cared!for! changed!after!being!in!this!lovely!city!with!the!Pope!and!with!hundreds!of!thousands! constructively,!for!the!common!good!of!today!and!in!order!to!offer!a!bright!horizon! of!other!young!people!from!around!the!world.!What!are!you!going!to!tell!them?!I! to!future!generations.!Although!there!are!currently!some!reasons!for!concern,!the! invite!you!to!give!a!bold!witness!of!Christian!living!to!them.!In!this!way!you!will!give! greatest!one!is!the!desire!for!the!betterment!of!all!Spaniards!with!that!dynamism! birth!to!new!Christians!and!will!help!the!Church!grow!strongly!in!the!hearts!of!many! which!characterizes!them!and!to!which!their!deep!and!very!fruitful!Christian!roots! others.! have!contributed!so!much!down!through!the!centuries.! During!these!days,!how!often!I!have!thought!of!the!young!people!at!home!who!are! From!this!place!I!send!very!cordial!greetings!to!you!all,!dear!friends!of!Spain!and! waiting!for!your!return!!Take!my!affectionate!greetings!to!them,!to!those!less! Madrid,!and!those!of!you!from!other!lands.!During!these!days!I!will!be!with!you,! fortunate,!to!your!families!and!to!the!Christian!communities!that!you!come!from.! thinking!of!all!young!people!in!the!world,!in!particular!those!who!are!going!through! Let!me!also!express!my!gratitude!to!the!Bishops!and!priests!who!are!present!in!such! various!kinds!of!trial.!Entrusting!this!Meeting!to!the!most!holy!Virgin!Mary,!and!to! great!numbers!at!this!Day.!To!them!all!I!extend!my!deepest!thanks,!encouraging! the!patron!saints!of!this!Day,!I!ask!God!always!to!bless!and!protect!the!sons!and! them!to!continue!to!work!pastorally!among!young!people!with!enthusiasm!and! daughters!of!Spain.!Thank!you!very!much.! dedication.! ! [Spanish]!I!greet!the!Archbishop!of!the!Forces!affectionately!and!I!warmly!thank!the! ! ! Spanish!Air!Force,!which!very!generously!permitted!Cuatro!Vientos!Air!Base!on!this,! the!centenary!of!the!foundation!of!the!Spanish!Air!Force.!I!place!all!Spanish!Air!Force! personnel!and!their!families!under!the!maternal!protection!of!Our!Lady!of!Loreto.! In!this!context,!I!recall!that!yesterday!marked!the!third!anniversary!of!the!grave! accident!at!Barajas!Airport!which!caused!many!deaths!and!injuries,!and!I!express!my! spiritual!closeness!and!my!deep!affection!for!all!those!touched!by!that!unfortunate! event,!and!well!as!for!the!families!of!the!victims,!whose!souls!we!commend!to!the! mercy!of!God.! I!am!pleased!now!to!announce!that!the!next!World!Youth!Day!will!be!held!in!2013,!in! Rio!de!Janeiro.!Even!now,!let!us!ask!the!Lord!to!assist!all!those!who!will!organize!it,! and!to!ease!the!journey!there!of!young!people!from!all!over!the!world,!so!that!they! will!be!able!to!join!me!in!that!beautiful!city!of!Brazil.! Dear!friends,!before!we!say!goodAbye,!and!while!the!young!people!of!Spain!pass!on! the!World!Youth!Day!cross!to!the!young!people!of!Brazil,!as!Successor!of!Peter!I! entrust!all!of!you!present!with!this!task:!make!the!knowledge!and!love!of!Jesus!Christ! known!to!the!whole!world!!He!wants!you!to!be!the!apostles!of!the!twentyAfirst! century!and!the!messengers!of!his!joy.!Do!not!let!him!down!!Thank!you!very!much.! joyful!participation!in!the!life!of!your!parishes,!communities!and!movements,!as!well! WELCOME(CEREMONY(WITH(YOUNG(PEOPLE( as!the!celebration!of!Sunday!Mass,!frequent!reception!of!the!sacrament!of! ! Reconciliation,!and!the!cultivation!of!personal!prayer!and!meditation!on!God’s!word.! Plaza!de!Cibeles,!Madrid! Friendship!with!Jesus!will!also!lead!you!to!bear!witness!to!the!faith!wherever!you! Thursday,!18!August!2011! are,!even!when!it!meets!with!rejection!or!indifference.!We!cannot!encounter!Christ! !! and!not!want!to!make!him!known!to!others.!So!do!not!keep!Christ!to!yourselves!! ! Share!with!others!the!joy!of!your!faith.!The!world!needs!the!witness!of!your!faith,!it! Dear!Young!Friends,! surely!needs!God.!I!think!that!the!presence!here!of!so!many!young!people,!coming! It!is!a!great!joy!for!me!to!meet!you!here!in!the!heart!of!this!lovely!city!of!Madrid,! from!all!over!the!world,!is!a!wonderful!proof!of!the!fruitfulness!of!Christ’s!command! whose!keys!the!Lord!Mayor!has!kindly!presented!me.!Today!Madrid!is!also!the! to!the!Church:!“Go!into!all!the!world!and!proclaim!the!Gospel!to!the!whole!creation”! capital!of!the!world’s!young!people,!and!the!gaze!of!the!whole!Church!is!fixed!here.! (Mk!16:15).!You!too!have!been!given!the!extraordinary!task!of!being!disciples!and! The!Lord!has!brought!us!together!here!so!that!during!these!days!we!can!experience! missionaries!of!Christ!in!other!lands!and!countries!filled!with!young!people!who!are! the!beauty!of!World!Youth!Day.!Through!your!presence!and!your!participation!in! looking!for!something!greater!and,!because!their!heart!tells!them!that!more! these!celebrations,!the!name!of!Christ!will!echo!throughout!this!great!City.!Let!us! authentic!values!do!exist,!they!do!not!let!themselves!be!seduced!by!the!empty! pray!that!his!message!of!hope!and!love!will!also!resound!in!the!hearts!of!those!who! promises!of!a!lifestyle!which!has!no!room!for!God.! are!not!believers!or!who!have!grown!distant!from!the!Church.!Many!thanks!for!the! Dear!young!people,!I!pray!for!you!with!heartfelt!affection.!I!commend!all!of!you!to! splendid!welcome!which!you!gave!me!as!I!entered!the!City,!as!a!sign!of!your!love!and! the!Virgin!Mary!and!I!ask!her!to!accompany!you!always!by!her!maternal!intercession! closeness!to!the!Successor!of!Peter.! and!to!teach!you!how!to!remain!faithful!to!God’s!word.!I!ask!you!to!pray!for!the! I!greet!Cardinal!Stanisław!Ryłko,!President!of!the!Pontifical!Council!for!the!Laity,!and! Pope,!so!that,!as!the!Successor!of!Peter,!he!may!always!confirm!his!brothers!and! his!staff!in!that!Council,!with!gratitude!for!all!the!work!which!they!have!done.!I!also! sisters!in!the!faith.!May!all!of!us!in!the!Church,!pastors!and!faithful!alike,!draw!closer! thank!Cardinal!Antonio!María!Rouco!Varela,!the!Archbishop!of!Madrid,!for!his!kind! to!the!Lord!each!day.!May!we!grow!in!holiness!of!life!and!be!effective!witnesses!to! words!and!for!the!efforts!made!by!his!Archdiocese,!along!with!the!other!Dioceses!of! the!truth!that!Jesus!Christ!is!indeed!the!Son!of!God,!the!Saviour!of!all!mankind!and! Spain,!in!preparing!this!World!Youth!Day;!my!thanks!also!go!to!all!those!in!so!many! the!living!source!of!our!hope.!Amen.! other!Particular!Churches!throughout!the!world!who!have!generously!contributed!to! ! its!preparation.!I!express!appreciation!to!the!national,!the!autonomous!regional!and! ! ! the!local!authorities!for!their!presence!and!for!their!generous!help!in!ensuring!the! good!organization!of!this!great!event.!My!thanks!go!also!to!my!brother!Bishops,!the! priests!and!seminarians,!the!consecrated!men!and!women!and!all!the!faithful! present!here!today,!who!have!helped!to!prepare!the!young!people!to!experience! these!intense!days!of!pilgrimage!towards!an!encounter!with!Christ.!I!offer!all!of!you!a! heartfelt!greeting!in!the!Lord!and!I!repeat!that!it!is!a!great!blessing!for!me!to!be!here! with!you.!May!the!flame!of!Christ’s!love!burn!always!bright!in!your!hearts.! [French]!Dear!young!FrenchAspeaking!people,!you!have!responded!in!great!numbers! to!the!Lord’s!call!to!come!and!meet!him!in!Madrid.!I!congratulate!you!for!this!! Welcome!to!World!Youth!Day!!You!have!brought!with!you!profound!questions,!and! you!are!seeking!answers.!It!is!always!a!good!thing!to!keep!seeking.!Above!all,!seek! the!Truth,!which!is!not!an!idea!or!an!ideology!or!a!slogan,!but!a!person:!Christ,!God! himself,!who!has!come!into!our!midst!!You!rightly!wish!to!plant!your!faith!in!him,!to! ground!your!life!in!Christ.!He!has!always!loved!you!and!he!knows!you!better!than! anyone!else.!May!these!days!so!rich!in!prayer,!teaching!and!encounters!help!you!to! rediscover!this,!so!that!you!may!love!him!all!the!more.!May!Christ!accompany!you! Yet!faith!is!not!the!result!of!human!effort,!of!human!reasoning,!but!rather!a!gift!of! during!this!special!time!when,!all!together,!we!shall!sing!his!praises!and!offer!him!our! God:!“Blessed!are!you,!Simon!son!of!Jonah!!For!flesh!and!blood!has!not!revealed!this! prayers!! to!you,!but!my!Father!in!heaven”.!Faith!starts!with!God,!who!opens!his!heart!to!us! [English]!I!extend!an!affectionate!greeting!to!the!many!EnglishAspeaking!young! and!invites!us!to!share!in!his!own!divine!life.!Faith!does!not!simply!provide! people!who!have!come!to!Madrid.!May!these!days!of!prayer,!friendship!and! information!about!who!Christ!is;!rather,!it!entails!a!personal!relationship!with!Christ,! celebration!bring!us!closer!to!each!other!and!to!the!Lord!Jesus.!Make!trust!in!Christ’s! a!surrender!of!our!whole!person,!with!all!our!understanding,!will!and!feelings,!to! word!the!foundation!of!your!lives!!Planted!and!built!up!in!him,!firm!in!the!faith!and! God’s!selfArevelation.!So!Jesus’!question:!“But!who!do!you!say!that!I!am?”,!is! open!to!the!power!of!the!Spirit,!you!will!find!your!place!in!God’s!plan!and!enrich!the! ultimately!a!challenge!to!the!disciples!to!make!a!personal!decision!in!his!regard.!Faith! Church!with!your!gifts.!Let!us!pray!for!one!another,!so!that!we!may!be!joyful! in!Christ!and!discipleship!are!strictly!interconnected.! witnesses!to!Christ,!today!and!always.!God!bless!you!all!! And,!since!faith!involves!following!the!Master,!it!must!become!constantly!stronger,! [German]!Dear!GermanAspeaking!friends!!I!greet!all!of!you!with!great!affection.!I!am! deeper!and!more!mature,!to!the!extent!that!it!leads!to!a!closer!and!more!intense! happy!that!you!have!come!in!such!great!numbers.!During!these!days!we!want! relationship!with!Jesus.!Peter!and!the!other!disciples!also!had!to!grow!in!this!way,! together!to!confess!our!faith!in!Jesus!Christ,!to!deepen!that!faith!and!to!pass!it!on.! until!their!encounter!with!the!Risen!Lord!opened!their!eyes!to!the!fullness!of!faith.! Let!us!realize!ever!anew!that!Jesus!is!the!one!who!gives!true!meaning!to!our!lives.!Let! Dear!young!people,!today!Christ!is!asking!you!the!same!question!which!he!asked!the! us!open!our!hearts!to!Christ.!May!he!grant!all!of!us!a!joyful!and!blessed!time!here!in! Apostles:!“Who!do!you!say!that!I!am?”!Respond!to!him!with!generosity!and!courage,! Madrid.! as!befits!young!hearts!like!your!own.!Say!to!him:!“Jesus,!I!know!that!you!are!the!Son! [Italian]!Dear!young!Italians!!I!greet!you!with!great!affection!and!I!am!delighted!that! of!God,!who!have!given!your!life!for!me.!I!want!to!follow!you!faithfully!and!to!be!led! so!many!of!you!have!come!here,!filled!with!the!joy!of!faith.!Experience!these!days!in! by!your!word.!You!know!me!and!you!love!me.!I!place!my!trust!in!you!and!I!put!my! a!spirit!of!intense!prayer!and!fraternity,!and!testify!to!the!vitality!of!the!Church!in! whole!life!into!your!hands.!I!want!you!to!be!the!power!that!strengthens!me!and!the! Italy,!its!parishes,!associations!and!movements.!Share!this!wealth!with!everyone.! joy!which!never!leaves!me”.! Thank!you!! Jesus’!responds!to!Peter’s!confession!by!speaking!of!the!Church:!“And!I!tell!you,!you! [Portuguese]!Dear!young!people!of!the!different!countries!whose!official!language!is! are!Peter,!and!on!this!rock!I!will!build!my!Church”.!What!do!these!words!mean?!Jesus! Portuguese,!and!all!those!who!accompany!you,!welcome!to!Madrid!!I!greet!all!of!you! builds!the!Church!on!the!rock!of!the!faith!of!Peter,!who!confesses!that!Christ!is!God.! with!friendship!and!affection!and!I!invite!you!to!draw!close!to!the!eternal!source!of! The!Church,!then,!is!not!simply!a!human!institution,!like!any!other.!Rather,!she!is! your!youth!and!to!know!the!absolute!protagonist!of!this!World!Youth!Day!and!–!I! closely!joined!to!God.!Christ!himself!speaks!of!her!as!“his”!Church.!Christ!cannot!be! hope!–!of!your!own!lives:!Christ!the!Lord.!In!these!days!you!will!personally!hear!his! separated!from!the!Church!any!more!than!the!head!can!be!separated!from!the!body! word!resound.!Let!this!word!into!your!hearts,!let!it!take!root,!and!make!it!the! (cf.!1!Cor!12:12).!The!Church!does!not!draw!her!life!from!herself,!but!from!the!Lord.! foundation!of!your!lives.!Firm!in!the!faith,!you!will!be!a!link!in!the!great!chain!of! Dear!young!friends,!as!the!Successor!of!Peter,!let!me!urge!you!to!strengthen!this! believers.!No!one!can!believe!without!being!supported!by!the!faith!of!others,!and!by! faith!which!has!been!handed!down!to!us!from!the!time!of!the!Apostles.!Make!Christ,! my!faith!I!also!help!to!support!others!in!the!faith.!The!Church!needs!you,!and!you! the!Son!of!God,!the!centre!of!your!life.!But!let!me!also!remind!you!that!following! need!the!Church.! Jesus!in!faith!means!walking!at!his!side!in!the!communion!of!the!Church.!We!cannot! [Polish]!I!greet!the!young!people!who!have!come!from!Poland,!countrymen!of! follow!Jesus!on!our!own.!Anyone!who!would!be!tempted!to!do!so!“on!his!own”,!or!to! Blessed!John!Paul!II,!the!founder!of!World!Youth!Day.!I!am!delighted!by!your! approach!the!life!of!faith!with!that!kind!of!individualism!so!prevalent!today,!will!risk! presence!here!in!Madrid!!I!pray!that!these!will!be!good!days,!days!of!prayer,!in!which! never!truly!encountering!Jesus,!or!will!end!up!following!a!counterfeit!Jesus.! you!will!strengthen!your!relationship!with!Jesus.!May!God’s!Spirit!guide!you.! Having!faith!means!drawing!support!from!the!faith!of!your!brothers!and!sisters,!even! ! as!your!own!faith!serves!as!a!support!for!the!faith!of!others.!I!ask!you,!dear!friends,! ! ! to!love!the!Church!which!brought!you!to!birth!in!the!faith,!which!helped!you!to!grow! in!the!knowledge!of!Christ!and!which!led!you!to!discover!the!beauty!of!his!love.! Growing!in!friendship!with!Christ!necessarily!means!recognizing!the!importance!of! FINAL(MASS( WELCOME(CEREMONY(WITH(YOUNG(PEOPLE( ! ! Cuatro!Vientos!Air!Base,!Madrid!! Plaza!de!Cibeles,!Madrid! Sunday,!21!August!2011! Thursday,!18!August!2011!! !! ! ! ! Dear!Young!Friends:! Dear!Friends,! I!have!been!thinking!a!lot!about!you!during!this!time!in!which!we!have!been! Thank!you!for!the!kind!words!addressed!to!me!by!the!young!people!representing!the! separated.!I!hope!you!have!been!able!to!get!some!sleep!in!spite!of!the!weather.!I!am! five!continents.!And!I!salute!with!affection!all!of!you!gathered!here,!young!people! sure!that!since!dawn!you!have!raised!up!your!eyes!more!than!once,!and!not!only! from!Oceania,!Africa,!America,!Asia!and!Europe;!and!also!those!unable!to!be!here.!I! your!eyes!but!above!all!your!hearts,!turning!this!occasion!into!prayer.!God!turns!all! always!keep!you!very!much!in!my!heart!and!pray!for!you.!God!has!given!me!the! things!into!good.!With!this!confidence!and!trusting!in!the!Lord!who!never!abandons! grace!to!see!and!hear!you!for!myself!and,!as!we!gather!together,!to!listen!to!his! us,!let!us!begin!our!Eucharistic!celebration,!full!of!enthusiasm!and!strong!in!our!faith.! word.! ***! In!the!reading!which!has!just!been!proclaimed,!we!heard!a!passage!from!the!Gospel! ( which!talks!of!welcoming!the!words!of!Jesus!and!putting!them!into!practice.!There! HOMILY( are!words!which!serve!only!to!amuse,!as!fleeting!as!an!empty!breeze;!others,!to!an! ! extent,!inform!us;!those!of!Jesus,!on!the!other!hand,!must!reach!our!hearts,!take! Dear!Young!People,! root!and!bloom!there!all!our!lives.!If!not,!they!remain!empty!and!become!ephemeral.! In!this!celebration!of!the!Eucharist!we!have!reached!the!high!point!of!this!World! They!do!not!bring!us!to!him!and,!as!a!result,!Christ!stays!remote,!just!one!voice! Youth!Day.!Seeing!you!here,!gathered!in!such!great!numbers!from!all!parts!of!the! among!the!many!others!around!us!which!are!so!familiar.!Furthermore,!the!Master! world,!fills!my!heart!with!joy.!I!think!of!the!special!love!with!which!Jesus!is!looking! who!speaks!teaches,!not!something!learned!from!others,!but!that!which!he!himself! upon!you.!Yes,!the!Lord!loves!you!and!calls!you!his!friends!(cf.!Jn!15:15).!He!goes!out! is,!the!only!one!who!truly!knows!the!path!of!man!towards!God,!because!he!is!the!one! to!meet!you!and!he!wants!to!accompany!you!on!your!journey,!to!open!the!door!to!a! who!opened!it!up!for!us,!he!made!it!so!that!we!might!have!authentic!lives,!lives! life!of!fulfilment!and!to!give!you!a!share!in!his!own!closeness!to!the!Father.!For!our! which!are!always!worth!living,!in!every!circumstance,!and!which!not!even!death!can! part,!we!have!come!to!know!the!immensity!of!his!love!and!we!want!to!respond! destroy.!The!Gospel!continues,!explaining!these!things!with!the!evocative!image!of! generously!to!his!love!by!sharing!with!others!the!joy!we!have!received.!Certainly,! someone!who!builds!on!solid!rock,!resistant!to!the!onslaught!of!adversity,!and!in! there!are!many!people!today!who!feel!attracted!by!the!figure!of!Christ!and!want!to! contrast!to!someone!who!builds!on!sand!A!we!would!say!today!in!what!appears!a! know!him!better.!They!realize!that!he!is!the!answer!to!so!many!of!our!deepest! paradise!A!but!which!collapses!with!the!first!gust!of!wind!and!falls!into!ruins.! concerns.!But!who!is!he!really?!How!can!someone!who!lived!on!this!earth!so!long! Dear!young!people,!listen!closely!to!the!words!of!the!Lord,!that!they!may!be!for!you! ago!have!anything!in!common!with!me!today?! “spirit!and!life”!(Jn!6:63),!roots!which!nourish!your!being,!a!rule!of!life!which!likens!us! The!Gospel!we!have!just!heard!(cf.!Mt!16:13A20)!suggests!two!different!ways!of! A!poor!in!spirit,!thirsting!for!justice,!merciful,!pure!in!heart,!lovers!of!peace!A!to!the! knowing!Christ.!The!first!is!an!impersonal!knowledge,!one!based!on!current!opinion.! person!of!Christ.!Listen!regularly!every!day!as!if!he!were!the!one!friend!who!does!not! When!Jesus!asks:!“Who!do!people!say!that!the!Son!of!Man!is?”,!the!disciples!answer:! deceive,!the!one!with!whom!we!wish!to!share!the!path!of!life.!Of!course,!you!know! “Some!say!John!the!Baptist,!but!others!Elijah,!and!still!others!Jeremiah!or!one!of!the! that!when!we!do!not!walk!beside!Christ!our!guide,!we!get!lost!on!other!paths,!like! prophets”.!In!other!words,!Christ!is!seen!as!yet!another!religious!figure,!like!those! the!path!of!our!blind!and!selfish!impulses,!or!the!path!of!flattering!but!selfAserving! who!came!before!him.!Then!Jesus!turns!to!the!disciples!and!asks!them:!“But!who!do! suggestions,!deceiving!and!fickle,!which!leave!emptiness!and!frustration!in!their! you!say!that!I!am?”!Peter!responds!with!what!is!the!first!confession!of!faith:!“You!are! wake.! the!Messiah,!the!Son!of!the!living!God”.!Faith!is!more!than!just!empirical!or!historical! Use!these!days!to!know!Christ!better!and!to!make!sure!that,!rooted!in!him,!your! facts;!it!is!an!ability!to!grasp!the!mystery!of!Christ’s!person!in!all!its!depth.! enthusiasm!and!happiness,!your!desire!to!go!further,!to!reach!the!heights,!even!God! himself,!always!hold!a!sure!future,!because!the!fullness!of!life!has!already!been! [English]!Dear!young!people,!in!these!moments!of!silence!before!the!Blessed! placed!within!you.!Let!that!life!grow!with!divine!grace,!generously!and!without!halfA Sacrament,!let!us!raise!our!minds!and!hearts!to!Jesus!Christ,!the!Lord!of!our!lives!and! measures,!as!you!remain!steadfast!in!your!aim!for!holiness.!And,!in!the!face!of!our! of!the!future.!May!he!pour!out!his!Spirit!upon!us!and!upon!the!whole!Church,!that! weaknesses!which!sometimes!overwhelm!us,!we!can!rely!on!the!mercy!of!the!Lord! we!may!be!a!beacon!of!freedom,!reconciliation!and!peace!for!the!whole!world.! who!is!always!ready!to!help!us!again!and!who!offers!us!pardon!in!the!sacrament!of! [German]!Dear!young!Christians!from!the!GermanAspeaking!countries!!Deep!in!our! Penance.! hearts!we!yearn!for!what!is!grand!and!beautiful!in!life.!Do!not!let!your!desires!and! If!you!build!on!solid!rock,!not!only!your!life!will!be!solid!and!stable,!but!it!will!also! aspirations!dissipate,!but!ground!them!in!Jesus!Christ.!He!himself!is!the!sure! help!project!the!light!of!Christ!shining!upon!those!of!your!own!age!and!upon!the! foundation,!the!point!of!reference,!for!building!up!your!life.! whole!of!humanity,!presenting!a!valid!alternative!to!all!those!who!have!fallen!short,! [Italian]!I!now!turn!to!the!ItalianAspeaking!young!people.!Dear!friends,!this!vigil!will! because!the!essentials!in!their!lives!were!inconsistent;!to!all!those!who!are!content! remain!as!an!unforgettable!experience!in!your!lives.!Guard!the!flame!which!God!has! to!follow!fashionable!ideas,!they!take!shelter!in!the!here!and!now,!forgetting!true! lit!in!your!hearts!tonight.!Never!let!it!go!out,!renew!it!each!day,!share!it!with!your! justice,!or!they!take!refuge!in!their!own!opinions!instead!of!seeking!the!simple!truth.! contemporaries!who!live!in!darkness!and!who!are!seeking!a!light!for!their!way.!Thank! Indeed,!there!are!many!who,!creating!their!own!gods,!believe!they!need!no!roots!or! you!!Until!tomorrow!morning!! foundations!other!than!themselves.!They!take!it!upon!themselves!to!decide!what!is! [Portuguese]!My!dear!friends,!I!invite!each!of!you!to!enter!into!a!personal!dialogue! true!or!not,!what!is!good!and!evil,!what!is!just!and!unjust;!who!should!live!and!who! with!Christ,!sharing!with!him!your!hesitations!and!above!all!listening!to!his!voice.!The! can!be!sacrificed!in!the!interests!of!other!preferences;!leaving!each!step!to!chance,! Lord!is!here!and!he!is!calling!you!!Young!friends,!it!is!good!to!hear!within!us!the!word! with!no!clear!path,!letting!themselves!be!led!by!the!whim!of!each!moment.!These! of!Jesus!and!to!follow!in!his!footsteps.!Ask!the!Lord!to!help!you!to!discover!your! temptations!are!always!lying!in!wait.!It!is!important!not!to!give!in!to!them!because,! vocation!in!life!and!in!the!Church,!and!to!persevere!in!it!with!joy!and!fidelity,! in!reality,!they!lead!to!something!so!evanescent,!like!an!existence!with!no!horizons,!a! knowing!that!he!never!abandons!you!or!betrays!you!!He!remains!with!us!until!the! liberty!without!God.!We,!on!the!other!hand,!know!well!that!we!have!been!created! end!of!the!world.! free,!in!the!image!of!God,!precisely!so!that!we!might!be!in!the!forefront!of!the!search! [Polish]!Dear!young!friends!from!Poland!!This!prayer!vigil!is!filled!with!the!presence! for!truth!and!goodness,!responsible!for!our!actions,!not!mere!blind!executives,!but! of!Christ.!Grounded!in!his!love,!draw!near!to!him!with!the!flame!of!your!faith.!He!will! creative!coAworkers!in!the!task!of!cultivating!and!beautifying!the!work!of!creation.! fill!your!hearts!with!his!life.!Build!your!lives!on!Christ!and!on!his!Gospel.!I!willingly! God!is!looking!for!a!responsible!interlocutor,!someone!who!can!dialogue!with!him! bless!all!of!you.! and!love!him.!Through!Christ!we!can!truly!succeed!and,!established!in!him,!we!give! *!*!*! wings!to!our!freedom.!Is!this!not!the!great!reason!for!our!joy?!Isn’t!this!the!firm! Dear!Young!Friends,! ground!upon!which!to!build!the!civilization!of!love!and!life,!capable!of!humanizing!all! We!have!lived!together!an!adventure.!Strengthened!by!your!faith!in!Christ,!you!have! of!us?! resisted!the!rain.!Before!leaving!I!wish!you!all!good!night.!Have!a!good!rest.!I!thank! Dear!friends:!be!prudent!and!wise,!build!your!lives!upon!the!firm!foundation!which!is! you!for!the!sacrifice!that!you!are!making!and!I!have!no!doubt!that!you!will!offer!it! Christ.!This!wisdom!and!prudence!will!guide!your!steps,!nothing!will!make!you!fear! generously!to!the!Lord.!We!shall!see!one!another!tomorrow,!God!willing,!in!the! and!peace!will!reign!in!your!hearts.!Then!you!will!be!blessed!and!happy!and!your! celebration!of!the!Eucharist.!I!am!expecting!all!of!you.!I!thank!you!for!the!fine! happiness!will!influence!others.!They!will!wonder!what!the!secret!of!your!life!is!and! example!that!you!have!given.!As!happened!tonight,!you!can!always,!with!Christ,! they!will!discover!that!the!rock!which!underpins!the!entire!building!and!upon!which! endure!the!trials!of!life.!Do!not!forget!this.!I!thank!you!all.! rests!your!whole!existence!is!the!very!person!of!Christ,!your!friend,!brother!and!Lord,! ! the!Son!of!God!incarnate,!who!gives!meaning!to!all!the!universe.! ! ! He!died!for!us!all,!rising!that!we!might!have!life,!and!now,!from!the!throne!of!the! Father,!he!accompanies!all!men!and!women,!watching!continually!over!each!one!of! us.! history!so!that,!by!your!faith,!his!name!will!continue!to!resound!throughout!the! I!commend!the!fruits!of!this!World!Youth!Day!to!the!most!holy!Virgin!Mary,!who!said! world.! “Yes”!to!the!will!of!God,!and!teaches!us!a!unique!example!of!fidelity!to!her!divine! During!this!prayer!vigil,!I!urge!you!to!ask!God!to!help!you!find!your!vocation!in! son,!whom!she!followed!to!his!death!upon!the!Cross.!Let!us!meditate!upon!this!more! society!and!in!the!Church,!and!to!persevere!in!that!vocation!with!joy!and!fidelity.!It!is! deeply!in!the!Stations!of!the!Cross.!And!let!us!pray!that,!like!her,!our!“Yes”!to!Christ! a!good!thing!to!open!our!hearts!to!Christ’s!call!and!to!follow!with!courage!and! today!may!also!be!an!unconditional!“Yes”!to!his!friendship,!both!at!the!end!of!this! generosity!the!path!he!maps!out!for!us.! Day!and!throughout!our!entire!lives.!Thank!you!very!much.! The!Lord!calls!many!people!to!marriage,!in!which!a!man!and!a!woman,!in!becoming! ! ! one!flesh!(cf.!Gen!2:24),!find!fulfilment!in!a!profound!life!of!communion.!It!is!a! prospect!that!is!both!bright!and!demanding.!It!is!a!project!for!true!love!which!is!daily! renewed!and!deepened!by!sharing!joys!and!sorrows,!one!marked!by!complete!selfA giving.!For!this!reason,!to!acknowledge!the!beauty!and!goodness!of!marriage!is!to! realize!that!only!a!setting!of!fidelity!and!indissolubility,!along!with!openness!to!God’s! gift!of!life,!is!adequate!to!the!grandeur!and!dignity!of!marital!love.! Christ!calls!others!to!follow!him!more!closely!in!the!priesthood!or!in!consecrated!life.! It!is!hard!to!put!into!words!the!happiness!you!feel!when!you!know!that!Jesus!seeks! you,!trusts!in!you,!and!with!his!unmistakable!voice!also!says!to!you:!“Follow!me!”! (cf.!Mk!2:14).! Dear!young!people,!if!you!wish!to!discover!and!to!live!faithfully!the!form!of!life!to! which!the!Lord!is!calling!each!of!you,!you!must!remain!in!his!love!as!his!friends.!And! how!do!we!preserve!friendship!except!through!frequent!contact,!conversation,!being! together!in!good!times!and!bad?!Saint!Teresa!of!Jesus!used!to!say!that!prayer!is!just! such!“friendly!contact,!often!spending!time!alone!with!the!one!who!we!know!loves! us”!(cf.!Autobiography,!8).! And!so!I!now!ask!you!to!“abide”!in!the!adoration!of!Christ,!truly!present!in!the! Eucharist.!I!ask!you!to!enter!into!conversation!with!him,!to!bring!before!him!your! questions!and!to!listen!to!his!voice.!Dear!friends,!I!pray!for!you!with!all!my!heart.!And! I!ask!you!to!pray!for!me.!Tonight!let!us!ask!the!Lord!to!grant!that,!attracted!by!the! beauty!of!his!love,!we!may!always!live!faithfully!as!his!disciples.!Amen.! Dear!Friends:!I!thank!you!for!your!joy!and!your!resistance.!Your!strength!is!greater! than!the!rain.!Thank!you.!With!rain!the!Lord!has!sent!us!many!blessings.!In!this!also,! you!are!an!example.! [French]!Dear!young!FrenchAspeakers,!be!proud!of!the!gift!of!faith!which!you!have! received,!as!it!will!illumine!your!life!at!every!moment.!Draw!strength!from!the!faith! of!your!neighbours,!from!the!faith!of!the!Church!!Through!faith!we!are!grounded!in! Christ.!Gather!with!others!to!deepen!it,!be!faithful!to!the!celebration!of!the! Eucharist,!the!mystery!of!faith!par!excellence.!Christ!alone!can!respond!to!your! aspirations.!Let!yourselves!be!seized!by!God,!so!that!your!presence!in!the!Church!will! give!her!new!life!! MEETING(WITH(YOUNG(WOMEN(RELIGIOUS( PRAYER!VIGIL!WITH!YOUNG!PEOPLE! ! ! Monastery!of!San!Lorenzo!de!El!Escorial! Cuatro!Vientos!Air!Base,!Madrid!! Friday,!19!August!2011! Saturday,!20!August!2011! ! ! ! !! Dear!Young!Women!Religious,! Dear!Young!Friends,! As!part!of!the!World!Youth!Day!which!we!are!celebrating!in!Madrid,!I!am!delighted!to! I!greet!all!of!you,!especially!the!young!people!who!have!asked!me!their!questions,! have!this!opportunity!to!meet!you!who!have!consecrated!your!youth!to!the!Lord,! and!I!thank!them!for!the!sincerity!with!which!they!set!forth!their!concerns,!that! and!I!thank!you!for!the!kind!greeting!you!have!given!me.!I!also!thank!the!Archbishop! express!the!longing!which!all!of!you!have!to!achieve!something!great!in!life,! of!Madrid,!who!arranged!for!this!meeting!in!the!evocative!setting!of!the!Monastery! something!which!can!bring!you!fulfilment!and!happiness.! of!San!Lorenzo!de!El!Escorial.!Its!famous!library!preserves!important!editions!of!the! How!can!a!young!person!be!true!to!the!faith!and!yet!continue!to!aspire!to!high!ideals! sacred!Scriptures!and!the!monastic!rules!of!various!religious!families,!yet!your!own! in!today’s!society?!In!the!Gospel!we!have!just!heard,!Jesus!gives!us!an!answer!to!this! lives!of!fidelity!to!the!calling!you!have!received!is!itself!a!precious!means!of! urgent!question:!“As!the!Father!has!loved!me,!so!I!have!loved!you;!abide!in!my!love”! preserving!the!word!of!the!Lord,!which!resounds!in!your!various!spiritual!traditions.! (Jn!15:9).! Dear!Sisters,!every!charism!is!an!evangelical!word!which!the!Holy!Spirit!recalls!to!the! Yes,!dear!friends,!God!loves!us.!This!is!the!great!truth!of!our!life;!it!is!what!makes! Church’s!memory!(cf.!Jn!14:26).!It!is!not!by!accident!that!consecrated!life!“is!born! everything!else!meaningful.!We!are!not!the!product!of!blind!chance!or!absurdity;! from!hearing!the!word!of!God!and!embracing!the!Gospel!as!its!rule!of!life.!A!life! instead!our!life!originates!as!part!of!a!loving!plan!of!God.!To!abide!in!his!love,!then,! devoted!to!following!Christ!in!his!chastity,!poverty!and!obedience!becomes!a!living! means!living!a!life!rooted!in!faith,!since!faith!is!more!than!the!mere!acceptance!of! ‘exegesis’!of!God’s!word…!Every!charism!and!every!rule!springs!from!it!and!seeks!to! certain!abstract!truths:!it!is!an!intimate!relationship!with!Christ,!who!enables!us!to! be!an!expression!of!it,!thus!opening!up!new!pathways!of!Christian!living!marked!by! open!our!hearts!to!this!mystery!of!love!and!to!live!as!men!and!women!conscious!of! the!radicalism!of!the!Gospel”!(Verbum!Domini,!83).! being!loved!by!God.! This!Gospel!radicalism!means!being!“rooted!and!built!up!in!Christ,!and!firm!in!the! If!you!abide!in!the!love!of!Christ,!rooted!in!the!faith,!you!will!encounter,!even!amid! faith”!(cf.Col!2:7).!In!the!consecrated!life,!this!means!going!to!the!very!root!of!the! setbacks!and!suffering,!the!source!of!true!happiness!and!joy.!Faith!does!not!run! love!of!Jesus!Christ!with!an!undivided!heart,!putting!nothing!ahead!of!this!love!(cf.! counter!to!your!highest!ideals;!on!the!contrary,!it!elevates!and!perfects!those!ideals.! Saint!Benedict,!Rule,!IV,!21)!and!being!completely!devoted!to!him,!the!Bridegroom,! Dear!young!people,!do!not!be!satisfied!with!anything!less!than!Truth!and!Love,!do! as!were!the!Saints,!like!Rose!of!Lima!and!Rafael!Arnáiz,!the!young!patrons!of!this! not!be!content!with!anything!less!than!Christ.! World!Youth!Day.!Your!lives!must!testify!to!the!personal!encounter!with!Christ!which! Nowadays,!although!the!dominant!culture!of!relativism!all!around!us!has!given!up!on! has!nourished!your!consecration,!and!to!all!the!transforming!power!of!that! the!search!for!truth,!even!if!it!is!the!highest!aspiration!of!the!human!spirit,!we!need! encounter.!This!is!all!the!more!important!today!when!“we!see!a!certain!‘eclipse!of! to!speak!with!courage!and!humility!of!the!universal!significance!of!Christ!as!the! God’!taking!place,!a!kind!of!amnesia!which,!albeit!not!an!outright!rejection!of! Saviour!of!humanity!and!the!source!of!hope!for!our!lives.!He!who!took!upon!himself! Christianity,!is!nonetheless!a!denial!of!the!treasure!of!our!faith,!a!denial!that!could! our!afflictions,!is!well!acquainted!with!the!mystery!of!human!suffering!and!manifests! lead!to!the!loss!of!our!deepest!identity”!(Message!for!the!2011!World!Youth!Day,!1).! his!loving!presence!in!those!who!suffer.!They!in!their!turn,!united!to!the!passion!of! In!a!world!of!relativism!and!mediocrity,!we!need!that!radicalism!to!which!your! Christ,!share!closely!in!his!work!of!redemption.!Furthermore,!our!disinterested! consecration,!as!a!way!of!belonging!to!the!God!who!is!loved!above!all!things,!bears! attention!towards!the!sick!and!the!forgotten!will!always!be!a!humble!and!warm! witness.! testimony!of!God’s!compassionate!regard.! This!Gospel!radicalism!proper!to!the!consecrated!life!finds!expression!in!filial! Dear!friends,!may!no!adversity!paralyze!you.!Be!afraid!neither!of!the!world,!nor!of! communion!with!the!Church,!the!home!of!the!children!of!God,!built!by!Christ:! the!future,!nor!of!your!weakness.!The!Lord!has!allowed!you!to!live!in!this!moment!of! communion!with!her!Pastors!who!set!forth!in!the!Lord’s!name!the!deposit!of!faith! people!–!know!this!well.!Your!lives!and!your!committed!service!proclaim!the! received!from!the!apostles,!the!ecclesial!Magisterium!and!the!Christian!tradition;! greatness!to!which!every!human!being!is!called:!to!show!compassion!and!loving! communion!with!your!own!religious!families!as!you!gratefully!preserve!their! concern!to!the!suffering,!just!as!God!himself!did.!In!your!noble!work!we!hear!an!echo! authentic!spiritual!patrimony!while!valuing!other!charisms;!and!communion!with! of!the!words!found!in!the!Gospel:!“just!as!you!did!it!to!one!of!the!least!of!these!my! other!members!of!the!Church,!such!as!the!laity,!who!are!called!to!make!their!own! brothers,!you!did!it!to!me”!(Mt!25:40).! specific!calling!a!testimony!to!the!one!Gospel!of!the!Lord.! At!the!same!time,!you!are!also!witnesses!of!the!immense!goodness!which!the!lives!of! Finally,!Gospel!radicalism!finds!expression!in!the!mission!God!has!chosen!to!entrust! these!young!people!represent!for!those!who!love!them,!and!for!humanity!as!a! to!us:!from!the!contemplative!life,!which!welcomes!into!its!cloisters!the!word!of!God! whole.!In!a!mysterious!yet!real!way,!their!presence!awakens!in!our!often!hardened! in!eloquent!silence!and!adores!his!beauty!in!the!solitude!which!he!alone!fills,!to!the! hearts!a!tenderness!which!opens!us!to!salvation.!The!lives!of!these!young!people! different!paths!of!the!apostolic!life,!in!whose!furrows!the!seed!of!the!Gospel!bears! surely!touch!human!hearts!and!for!that!reason!we!are!grateful!to!the!Lord!for!having! fruit!in!the!education!of!children!and!young!people,!the!care!of!the!sick!and!elderly,! known!them.! the!pastoral!care!of!families,!commitment!to!respect!for!life,!witness!to!the!truth!and! Dear!friends,!our!society,!which!all!too!often!questions!the!inestimable!value!of!life,! the!proclamation!of!peace!and!charity,!mission!work!and!the!new!evangelization,! of!every!life,!needs!you:!in!a!decisive!way!you!help!to!build!the!civilization!of!love.! and!so!many!other!sectors!of!the!Church’s!apostolate.! What!is!more,!you!play!a!leading!role!in!that!civilization.!As!sons!and!daughters!of! Dear!Sisters,!this!is!the!witness!of!holiness!to!which!God!is!calling!you,!as!you!follow! the!Church,!you!offer!the!Lord!your!lives,!with!all!their!ups!and!downs,!cooperating! Jesus!Christ!closely!and!unconditionally!in!consecration,!communion!and!mission.! with!him!and!somehow!becoming!“part!of!the!treasury!of!compassion!so!greatly! The!Church!needs!your!youthful!fidelity,!rooted!and!built!up!in!Christ.!Thank!you!for! needed!by!the!human!race”!(Spe!Salvi,!40).! your!generous,!total!and!perpetual!“yes”!to!the!call!of!the!Loved!One.!I!pray!that!the! With!great!affection,!and!through!the!intercession!of!Saint!Joseph,!Saint!John!of!God! Virgin!Mary!may!sustain!and!accompany!your!consecrated!youth,!with!the!lively! and!Saint!Benito!Menni,!I!commend!you!to!God!our!Lord:!may!he!be!your!strength! desire!that!it!will!challenge,!nourish!and!illumine!all!young!people.! and!your!reward.!As!a!pledge!of!his!love,!I!cordially!impart!to!you,!and!to!your! With!these!sentiments,!I!ask!God!to!repay!abundantly!the!generous!contribution! families!and!friends,!my!Apostolic!Blessing.!Thank!you!very!much.! which!consecrated!life!has!made!to!this!World!Youth!Day.!In!his!name,!and!with! ! great!gratitude,!I!give!you!my!affectionate!blessing.! ! ! ! ! MEETING(WITH(YOUNG(UNIVERSITY(PROFESSORS( VISIT(TO(THE(SAN(JOSÉ(FOUNDATION( ! ! Basilica!of!the!Monastery!of!San!Lorenzo!de!El!Escorial! Madrid! Friday,!19!August!2011! Saturday,!20!August!2011! ! !! ! ! Your!Eminence,! Your!Eminence,! My!Brother!Bishops,! Dear!Brother!Bishops,! Dear!Augustinian!Fathers,! Dear!Priests!and!Religious!of!the!Hospitaller!Order!of!Saint!John!of!God,! Dear!Professors,! Distinguished!Authorities,! Distinguished!Authorities,! Dear!Young!People,!Family!Members!and!Volunteers,! Dear!Friends,! I!thank!you!most!sincerely!for!your!kind!greeting!and!heartfelt!welcome.! I!have!looked!forward!to!this!meeting!with!you,!young!professors!in!the!universities! This!evening,!just!before!the!Prayer!Vigil!with!the!young!people!from!throughout!the! of!Spain.!You!provide!a!splendid!service!in!the!spread!of!truth,!in!circumstances!that! world!gathered!in!Madrid!for!this!World!Youth!Day,!we!have!this!chance!to!spend! are!not!always!easy.!I!greet!you!warmly!and!I!thank!you!for!your!kind!words!of! time!together!as!a!way!of!showing!the!Pope’s!closeness!and!esteem!for!each!of!you,! welcome!and!for!the!music!which!has!marvellously!resounded!in!this!magnificent! for!your!families!and!for!all!those!who!help!and!care!for!you!in!this!Foundation!of! monastery,!for!centuries!an!eloquent!witness!to!the!life!of!prayer!and!study.!In!this! Saint!Joseph’s!Institute.! highly!symbolic!place,!reason!and!faith!have!harmoniously!blended!in!the!austere! Youth,!as!I!have!said!more!than!once,!is!the!age!when!life!discloses!itself!to!us!with! stone!to!shape!one!of!Spain’s!most!renowned!monuments.! all!its!rich!possibilities,!inspiring!us!to!seek!the!lofty!goals!which!give!it!meaning.!So! I!also!greet!with!particular!affection!those!of!you!who!took!part!in!the!recent!World! when!suffering!appears!on!the!horizon!of!a!young!life,!we!are!shaken;!perhaps!we! Congress!of!Catholic!Universities!held!in!Avila!on!the!theme:!“The!Identity!and! ask!ourselves:!“Can!life!still!be!something!grand,!even!when!suffering!unexpectedly! Mission!of!the!Catholic!University”.! enters!it?”!In!my!Encyclical!on!Christian!Hope,!I!observed!that!“the!true!measure!of! Being!here!with!you,!I!am!reminded!of!my!own!first!steps!as!a!professor!at!the! humanity!is!essentially!determined!in!relationship!to!suffering!and!to!the!sufferer!…! University!of!Bonn.!At!the!time,!the!wounds!of!war!were!still!deeply!felt!and!we!had! A!society!unable!to!accept!its!suffering!members!and!incapable!of!helping!to!share! many!material!needs;!these!were!compensated!by!our!passion!for!an!exciting! their!suffering!and!to!bear!it!inwardly!through!‘comApassion’!is!a!cruel!and!inhuman! activity,!our!interaction!with!colleagues!of!different!disciplines!and!our!desire!to! society”!(Spe!Salvi,!38).!These!words!reflect!a!long!tradition!of!humanity!which!arises! respond!to!the!deepest!and!most!basic!concerns!of!our!students.!This!experience!of! from!Christ’s!own!selfAoffering!on!the!Cross!for!us!and!for!our!redemption.!Jesus!and,! a!“Universitas”!of!professors!and!students!who!together!seek!the!truth!in!all!fields!of! in!his!footsteps,!his!Sorrowful!Mother!and!the!saints,!are!witnesses!who!shows!us! knowledge,!or!as!Alfonso!X!the!Wise!put!it,!this!“counsel!of!masters!and!students! how!to!experience!the!tragedy!of!suffering!for!our!own!good!and!for!the!salvation!of! with!the!will!and!understanding!needed!to!master!the!various!disciplines”!(Siete! the!world.! Partidas,!partida!II,!tit.!XXXI),!helps!us!to!see!more!clearly!the!importance,!and!even! These!witnesses!speak!to!us,!first!and!foremost,!of!the!dignity!of!all!human!life,! the!definition,!of!the!University.! created!in!the!image!of!God.!No!suffering!can!efface!this!divine!image!imprinted!in! The!theme!of!the!present!World!Youth!Day!–!“Rooted!and!Built!Up!in!Christ,!and! the!depths!of!our!humanity.!But!there!is!more:!because!the!Son!of!God!wanted! Firm!in!the!Faith”!(cf.!Col!2:7)!can!also!shed!light!on!your!efforts!to!understand!more! freely!to!embrace!suffering!and!death,!we!are!also!capable!of!seeing!God’s!image!in! clearly!your!own!identity!and!what!you!are!called!to!do.!As!I!wrote!in!my!Message!to! the!face!of!those!who!suffer.!This!preferential!love!of!the!Lord!for!the!suffering!helps! Young!People!in!preparation!for!these!days,!the!terms!“rooted,!built!up!and!firm”!all! us!to!see!others!more!clearly!and!to!give!them,!above!and!beyond!their!material! point!to!solid!foundations!on!which!we!can!construct!our!lives!(cf.!No.!2).! demands,!the!look!of!love!which!they!need.!But!this!can!only!happen!as!the!fruit!of!a! But!where!will!young!people!encounter!those!reference!points!in!a!society!which!is! personal!encounter!with!Christ.!You!yourselves!–!as!religious,!family!members,! increasingly!confused!and!unstable?!At!times!one!has!the!idea!that!the!mission!of!a! health!care!professionals!and!volunteers!who!daily!live!and!work!with!these!young! ! university!professor!nowadays!is!exclusively!that!of!forming!competent!and!efficient! ! professionals!capable!of!satisfying!the!demand!for!labor!at!any!given!time.!One!also! Announcement!of!the!Holy!Father! hears!it!said!that!the!only!thing!that!matters!at!the!present!moment!is!pure!technical! ! ability.!This!sort!of!utilitarian!approach!to!education!is!in!fact!becoming!more! !! widespread,!even!at!the!university!level,!promoted!especially!by!sectors!outside!the! Dear!Brothers!and!Sisters,! University.!All!the!same,!you!who,!like!myself,!have!had!an!experience!of!the! With!great!joy,!here!in!this!Cathedral!Church!of!Santa!María!La!Real!de!la!Almudena,! University,!and!now!are!members!of!the!teaching!staff,!surely!are!looking!for! I!announce!to!the!People!of!God!that,!having!acceded!to!the!desire!expressed!by! something!more!lofty!and!capable!of!embracing!the!full!measure!of!what!it!is!to!be! Cardinal!Antonio!María!Rouco!Varela,!Archbishop!of!Madrid!and!President!of!the! human.!We!know!that!when!mere!utility!and!pure!pragmatism!become!the!principal! Bishops’!Conference!of!Spain,!together!with!the!members!of!the!Spanish!episcopate! criteria,!much!is!lost!and!the!results!can!be!tragic:!from!the!abuses!associated!with!a! and!other!Archbishops!and!Bishops!from!throughout!the!world,!as!well!as!many!of! science!which!acknowledges!no!limits!beyond!itself,!to!the!political!totalitarianism! the!lay!faithful,!I!will!shortly!declare!Saint!John!of!Avila!a!Doctor!of!the!universal! which!easily!arises!when!one!eliminates!any!higher!reference!than!the!mere!calculus! Church.! of!power.!The!authentic!idea!of!the!University,!on!the!other!hand,!is!precisely!what! In!making!this!announcement!here,!I!would!hope!that!the!word!and!the!example!of! saves!us!from!this!reductionist!and!curtailed!vision!of!humanity.! this!outstanding!pastor!will!enlighten!all!priests!and!those!who!look!forward!to!the! In!truth,!the!University!has!always!been,!and!is!always!called!to!be,!the!“house”! day!of!their!priestly!ordination.! where!one!seeks!the!truth!proper!to!the!human!person.!Consequently!it!was!not!by! I!invite!everyone!to!look!to!Saint!John!of!Avila!and!I!commend!to!his!intercession!the! accident!that!the!Church!promoted!the!universities,!for!Christian!faith!speaks!to!us!of! Bishops!of!Spain!and!those!of!the!whole!world,!as!well!as!all!priests!and!seminarians.! Christ!as!the!Word!through!whom!all!things!were!made!(cf.!Jn!1:3)!and!of!men!and! As!they!persevere!in!the!same!faith!which!he!taught,!may!they!model!their!hearts!on! women!as!made!in!the!image!and!likeness!of!God.!The!Gospel!message!perceives!a! that!of!Jesus!Christ!the!good!Shepherd,!to!whom!be!glory!and!honour!for!ever.! rationality!inherent!in!creation!and!considers!man!as!a!creature!participating!in,!and! Amen.! capable!of!attaining!to,!an!understanding!of!this!rationality.!The!University!thus! ! ! embodies!an!ideal!which!must!not!be!attenuated!or!compromised,!whether!by! ideologies!closed!to!reasoned!dialogue!or!by!truckling!to!a!purely!utilitarian!and! economic!conception!which!would!view!man!solely!as!a!consumer.! Here!we!see!the!vital!importance!of!your!own!mission.!You!yourselves!have!the! honour!and!responsibility!of!transmitting!the!ideal!of!the!University:!an!ideal!which! you!have!received!from!your!predecessors,!many!of!whom!were!humble!followers!of! the!Gospel!and,!as!such,!became!spiritual!giants.!We!should!feel!ourselves!their! successors,!in!a!time!quite!different!from!their!own,!yet!one!in!which!the!essential! human!questions!continue!to!challenge!and!stimulate!us.!With!them,!we!realize!that! we!are!a!link!in!that!chain!of!men!and!women!committed!to!teaching!the!faith!and! making!it!credible!to!human!reason.!And!we!do!this!not!simply!by!our!teaching,!but! by!the!way!we!live!our!faith!and!embody!it,!just!as!the!Word!took!flesh!and!dwelt! among!us.!Young!people!need!authentic!teachers:!persons!open!to!the!fullness!of! truth!in!the!various!branches!of!knowledge,!persons!who!listen!to!and!experience!in! own!hearts!that!interdisciplinary!dialogue;!persons!who,!above!all,!are!convinced!of! our!human!capacity!to!advance!along!the!path!of!truth.!Youth!is!a!privileged!time!for! seeking!and!encountering!truth.!As!Plato!said:!“Seek!truth!while!you!are!young,!for!if! you!do!not,!it!will!later!escape!your!grasp”!(Parmenides,!135d).!This!lofty!aspiration!is! the!most!precious!gift!which!you!can!give!to!your!students,!personally!and!by! to!the!Master.!This!openness,!which!is!a!gift!of!the!Holy!Spirit,!inspires!the!decision! example.!It!is!more!important!than!mere!technical!knowAhow,!or!cold!and!purely! to!live!in!celibacy!for!the!sake!of!the!kingdom!of!heaven!and,!leaving!aside!the! functional!data.! world’s!goods,!live!in!austerity!of!life!and!sincere!obedience,!without!pretence.! I!urge!you,!then,!never!to!lose!that!sense!of!enthusiasm!and!concern!for!truth.! Ask!him!to!let!you!imitate!him!in!his!perfect!charity!towards!all,!so!that!you!do!not! Always!remember!that!teaching!is!not!just!about!communicating!content,!but!about! shun!the!excluded!and!sinners,!but!help!them!convert!and!return!to!the!right!path.! forming!young!people.!You!need!to!understand!and!love!them,!to!awaken!their! Ask!him!to!teach!you!how!to!be!close!to!the!sick!and!the!poor!in!simplicity!and! innate!thirst!for!truth!and!their!yearning!for!transcendence.!Be!for!them!a!source!of! generosity.!Face!this!challenge!without!anxiety!or!mediocrity,!but!rather!as!a! encouragement!and!strength.! beautiful!way!of!living!our!human!life!in!gratuitousness!and!service,!as!witnesses!of! For!this!to!happen,!we!need!to!realize!in!the!first!place!that!the!path!to!the!fullness! God!made!man,!messengers!of!the!supreme!dignity!of!the!human!person!and! of!truth!calls!for!complete!commitment:!it!is!a!path!of!understanding!and!love,!of! therefore!its!unconditional!defenders.!Relying!on!his!love,!do!not!be!intimidated!by! reason!and!faith.!We!cannot!come!to!know!something!unless!we!are!moved!by!love;! surroundings!that!would!exclude!God!and!in!which!power,!wealth!and!pleasure!are! or,!for!that!matter,!love!something!which!does!not!strike!us!as!reasonable.! frequently!the!main!criteria!ruling!people’s!lives.!You!may!be!shunned!along!with! “Understanding!and!love!are!not!in!separate!compartments:!love!is!rich!in! others!who!propose!higher!goals!or!who!unmask!the!false!gods!before!whom!many! understanding!and!understanding!is!full!of!love”!(Caritas!in!Veritate,!30).!If!truth!and! now!bow!down.!That!will!be!the!moment!when!a!life!deeply!rooted!in!Christ!will! goodness!go!together,!so!too!do!knowledge!and!love.!This!unity!leads!to!consistency! clearly!be!seen!as!something!new!and!it!will!powerfully!attract!those!who!truly! in!life!and!thought,!that!ability!to!inspire!demanded!of!every!good!educator.! search!for!God,!truth!and!justice.! In!the!second!place,!we!need!to!recognize!that!truth!itself!will!always!lie!beyond!our! Under!the!guidance!of!your!formators,!open!your!hearts!to!the!light!of!the!Lord,!to! grasp.!We!can!seek!it!and!draw!near!to!it,!but!we!cannot!completely!possess!it;!or! see!if!this!path!which!demands!courage!and!authenticity!is!for!you.!Approach!the! put!better,!truth!possesses!us!and!inspires!us.!In!intellectual!and!educational!activity! priesthood!only!if!you!are!firmly!convinced!that!God!is!calling!you!to!be!his!ministers,! the!virtue!of!humility!is!also!indispensable,!since!it!protects!us!from!the!pride!which! and!if!you!are!completely!determined!to!exercise!it!in!obedience!to!the!Church’s! bars!the!way!to!truth.!We!must!not!draw!students!to!ourselves,!but!set!them!on!the! precepts.! path!toward!the!truth!which!we!seek!together.!The!Lord!will!help!you!in!this,!for!he! With!this!confidence,!learn!from!him!who!described!himself!as!meek!and!humble!of! asks!you!to!be!plain!and!effective!like!salt,!or!like!the!lamp!which!quietly!lights!the! heart,!leaving!behind!all!earthly!desire!for!his!sake!so!that,!rather!than!pursuing!your! room!(cf.!Mt!5:13).! own!good,!you!build!up!your!brothers!and!sisters!by!the!way!you!live,!as!did!the! All!these!things,!finally,!remind!us!to!keep!our!gaze!fixed!on!Christ,!whose!face! patron!saint!of!the!diocesan!clergy!of!Spain,!St!John!of!Avila.!Moved!by!his!example,! radiates!the!Truth!which!enlightens!us.!Christ!is!also!the!Way!which!leads!to!lasting! look!above!all!to!the!Virgin!Mary,!Mother!of!Priests.!She!will!know!how!to!mould! fulfilment;!he!walks!constantly!at!our!side!and!sustains!us!with!his!love.!Rooted!in! your!hearts!according!to!the!model!of!Christ,!her!divine!Son,!and!she!will!teach!you! him,!you!will!prove!good!guides!to!our!young!people.!With!this!confidence!I!invoke! how!to!treasure!for!ever!all!that!he!gained!on!Calvary!for!the!salvation!of!the!world.! upon!you!the!protection!of!the!Virgin!Mary,!Seat!of!Wisdom.!May!she!help!you!to! Amen.! cooperate!with!her!Son!by!living!a!life!which!is!personally!satisfying!and!which!brings! ! ! forth!rich!fruits!of!knowledge!and!faith!for!your!students.!Thank!you!very!much.! ! ! ! us!by!God!as!a!covenant,!so!that!we!might!apply!the!force!of!his!life!wherever!death! THE(WAY(OF(THE(CROSS( reigns!due!to!our!sins,!and!thus!destroy!it.!Christ’s!body!broken!and!his!blood! ! outpoured!–!the!surrender!of!his!freedom!–!became!through!these!Eucharistic!signs! Plaza!de!Cibeles,!Madrid! the!new!source!of!mankind’s!redeemed!freedom.!In!Christ,!we!have!the!promise!of! Friday,!19!August!2011! definitive!redemption!and!the!certain!hope!of!future!blessings.!Through!Christ!we! ! know!that!we!are!not!walking!towards!the!abyss,!the!silence!of!nothingness!or! ! Dear!Young!People,! death,!but!are!rather!pilgrims!on!the!way!to!a!promised!land,!on!the!way!to!him!who! We!have!celebrated!this!Way!of!the!Cross!with!fervour!and!devotion,!following!Christ! is!our!end!and!our!beginning.! along!the!path!of!his!passion!and!death.!The!commentaries!of!the!Little!Sisters!of!the! Dear!friends,!you!are!preparing!yourselves!to!become!apostles!with!Christ!and!like! Cross,!who!serve!the!poor!and!most!needy,!have!helped!us!enter!into!the!mystery!of! Christ,!and!to!accompany!your!fellow!men!and!women!along!their!journey!as! Christ’s!glorious!Cross,!wherein!is!found!God’s!true!wisdom!which!judges!the!world! companions!and!servants.! and!judges!those!who!consider!themselves!wise!(cf.!1!Cor!1:17A19).!We!have!also! How!should!you!behave!during!these!years!of!preparation?!First!of!all,!they!should! been!assisted!on!this!journey!to!Calvary!by!our!contemplation!of!these!wonderful! be!years!of!interior!silence,!of!unceasing!prayer,!of!constant!study!and!of!gradual! images!from!the!religious!patrimony!of!the!Spanish!dioceses.!In!these!images,!faith! insertion!into!the!pastoral!activity!and!structures!of!the!Church.!A!Church!which!is! and!art!combine!so!as!to!penetrate!our!heart!and!summon!us!to!conversion.!When! community!and!institution,!family!and!mission,!the!creation!of!Christ!through!his! faith’s!gaze!is!pure!and!authentic,!beauty!places!itself!at!its!service!and!is!able!to! Holy!Spirit,!as!well!as!the!result!of!those!of!us!who!shape!it!through!our!holiness!and! depict!the!mysteries!of!our!salvation!in!such!a!way!as!to!move!us!profoundly!and! our!sins.!God,!who!does!not!hesitate!to!make!of!the!poor!and!of!sinners!his!friends! transform!our!hearts,!as!Saint!Teresa!of!Jesus!herself!experienced!while! and!instruments!for!the!redemption!of!the!human!race,!willed!it!so.!The!holiness!of! contemplating!an!image!of!the!wounded!Christ!(cf.!Autobiography,!9:1).! the!Church!is!above!all!the!objective!holiness!of!the!very!person!of!Christ,!of!his! As!we!were!making!our!way!with!Jesus!towards!the!place!of!his!sacrifice!on!Mount! Gospel!and!his!sacraments,!the!holiness!of!that!power!from!on!high!which!enlivens! Calvary,!the!words!of!Saint!Paul!came!to!mind:!“Christ!loved!me!and!gave!himself!for! and!impels!it.!We!have!to!be!saints!so!as!not!to!create!a!contradiction!between!the! me”!(Gal!2:20).!In!the!face!of!such!disinterested!love,!we!find!ourselves!asking,!filled! sign!that!we!are!and!the!reality!that!we!wish!to!signify.! with!wonder!and!gratitude:!What!can!we!do!for!him?!What!response!shall!we!give! Meditate!well!upon!this!mystery!of!the!Church,!living!the!years!of!your!formation!in! him?!Saint!John!puts!it!succinctly:!“By!this!we!know!love,!that!he!laid!down!his!life! deep!joy,!humbly,!clearAmindedly!and!with!radical!fidelity!to!the!Gospel,!in!an! for!us;!and!we!ought!to!lay!down!our!lives!for!the!brethren”!(1!Jn!3:16).!Christ’s! affectionate!relation!to!the!time!spent!and!the!people!among!whom!you!live.!No!one! passion!urges!us!to!take!upon!our!own!shoulders!the!sufferings!of!the!world,!in!the! chooses!the!place!or!the!people!to!whom!he!is!sent,!and!every!time!has!its!own! certainty!that!God!is!not!distant!or!far!removed!from!man!and!his!troubles.!On!the! challenges;!but!in!every!age!God!gives!the!right!grace!to!face!and!overcome!those! contrary,!he!became!one!of!us!“in!order!to!suffer!with!man!in!an!utterly!real!way!—! challenges!with!love!and!realism.!That!is!why,!no!matter!the!circumstances!in!which! in!flesh!and!blood!...!hence!in!all!human!suffering!we!are!joined!by!one!who! he!finds!and!however!difficult!they!may!be,!the!priest!must!grow!in!all!kinds!of!good! experiences!and!carries!that!suffering!with!us;!hence!conRsolatio!is!present!in!all! works,!keeping!alive!within!him!the!words!spoken!on!his!Ordination!day,!by!which!he! suffering,!the!consolation!of!God's!compassionate!love!—!and!so!the!star!of!hope! was!exhorted!to!model!his!life!on!the!mystery!of!the!Lord’s!cross.! rises”!(Spe!Salvi,!39).! To!be!modeled!on!Christ,!dear!seminarians,!is!to!be!identified!ever!more!closely!with! Dear!young!friends,!may!Christ’s!love!for!us!increase!your!joy!and!encourage!you!to! him!who,!for!our!sake,!became!servant,!priest!and!victim.!To!be!modeled!on!him!is!in! go!in!search!of!those!less!fortunate.!You!are!open!to!the!idea!of!sharing!your!lives! fact!the!task!upon!which!the!priest!spends!his!entire!life.!We!already!know!that!it!is! with!others,!so!be!sure!not!to!pass!by!on!the!other!side!in!the!face!of!human! beyond!us!and!we!will!not!fully!succeed!but,!as!St!Paul!says,!we!run!towards!the!goal,! suffering,!for!it!is!here!that!God!expects!you!to!give!of!your!very!best:!your!capacity! hoping!to!reach!it!(cf.!Phil!3:12A14).! for!love!and!compassion.!The!different!forms!of!suffering!that!have!unfolded!before! That!said,!Christ!the!High!Priest!is!also!the!Good!Shepherd!who!cares!for!his!sheep,! our!eyes!in!the!course!of!this!Way!of!the!Cross!are!the!Lord’s!way!of!summoning!us! even!giving!his!life!for!them!(cf.!Jn!10:11).!In!order!to!liken!yourselves!to!the!Lord!in! to!spend!our!lives!following!in!his!footsteps!and!becoming!signs!of!his!consolation! this!as!well,!your!heart!must!mature!while!in!seminary,!remaining!completely!open! and!salvation.!“To!suffer!with!the!other!and!for!others;!to!suffer!for!the!sake!of!truth! EUCHARIST(WITH(SEMINARIANS( and!justice;!to!suffer!out!of!love!and!in!order!to!become!a!person!who!truly!loves!—! ! these!are!fundamental!elements!of!humanity,!and!to!abandon!them!would!destroy! Cathedral!of!Santa!María!la!Real!de!la!Almudena,!Madrid!! man!himself”!(ibid.).! Saturday,!20!August!2011! Let!us!eagerly!welcome!these!teachings!and!put!them!into!practice.!Let!us!look!upon! ( Christ,!hanging!on!the!harsh!wood!of!the!Cross,!and!let!us!ask!him!to!teach!us!this! !! mysterious!wisdom!of!the!Cross,!by!which!man!lives.!The!Cross!was!not!a!sign!of! Your!Eminence!the!Archbishop!of!Madrid,! failure,!but!an!expression!of!selfAgiving!in!love!that!extends!even!to!the!supreme! Dear!Brother!Bishops,!! sacrifice!of!one’s!life.!The!Father!wanted!to!show!his!love!for!us!through!the!embrace! Dear!Priests!and!Religious,!! of!his!crucified!Son:!crucified!out!of!love.!The!Cross,!by!its!shape!and!its!meaning,! Dear!Rectors!and!Formators,! represents!this!love!of!both!the!Father!and!the!Son!for!men.!Here!we!recognize!the! Dear!Seminarians,!! icon!of!supreme!love,!which!teaches!us!to!love!what!God!loves!and!in!the!way!that! Dear!Friends,! he!loves:!this!is!the!Good!News!that!gives!hope!to!the!world.! I!am!very!pleased!to!celebrate!Holy!Mass!with!you!who!aspire!to!be!Christ’s!priests! Let!us!turn!our!gaze!now!to!the!Virgin!Mary,!who!was!given!to!us!on!Calvary!to!be! for!the!service!of!the!Church!and!of!man,!and!I!thank!you!for!the!kind!words!with! our!Mother,!and!let!us!ask!her!to!sustain!us!with!her!loving!protection!along!the!path! which!you!welcomed!me.!Today,!this!holy!cathedral!church!of!Santa!María!La!Real!de! of!life,!particularly!when!we!pass!through!the!night!of!suffering,!so!that!we!may!be! la!Almudena!is!like!a!great!Upper!Room,!where!the!Lord!greatly!desires!to!celebrate! able!to!remain!steadfast,!as!she!did,!at!the!foot!of!the!Cross.!Thank!you!very!much.! the!Passover!with!you!who!wish!one!day!to!preside!in!his!name!at!the!mysteries!of! ! ! salvation.!Looking!at!you,!I!again!see!proof!of!how!Christ!continues!to!call!young! disciples!and!to!make!them!his!apostles,!thus!keeping!alive!the!mission!of!the!Church! and!the!offer!of!the!Gospel!to!the!world.!As!seminarians!you!are!on!the!path!towards! a!sacred!goal:!to!continue!the!mission!which!Christ!received!from!the!Father.!Called! by!him,!you!have!followed!his!voice!and,!attracted!by!his!loving!gaze,!you!now! advance!towards!the!sacred!ministry.!Fix!your!eyes!upon!him!who!through!his! incarnation!is!the!supreme!revelation!of!God!to!the!world!and!who!through!his! resurrection!faithfully!fulfills!his!promise.!Give!thanks!to!him!for!this!sign!of!favour!in! which!he!holds!each!one!of!you.! The!first!reading!which!we!heard!shows!us!Christ!as!the!new!and!eternal!priest!who! made!of!himself!a!perfect!offering.!The!response!to!the!psalm!may!be!aptly!applied! to!him!since,!at!his!coming!into!the!world,!he!said!to!the!Father,!“Here!I!am!to!do! your!will”!(cf.!Ps!39:8).!He!tried!to!please!him!in!all!things:!in!his!words!and!actions,! along!the!way!or!welcoming!sinners.!His!life!was!one!of!service!and!his!longing!was!a! constant!prayer,!placing!himself!in!the!name!of!all!before!the!Father!as!the!firstAborn! son!of!many!brothers!and!sisters.!The!author!of!the!Letter!to!the!Hebrews!states! that,!by!a!single!offering,!he!brought!to!perfection!for!all!time!those!of!us!who!are! called!to!share!his!sonship!(cf.!Heb!10:14).! The!Eucharist,!whose!institution!is!mentioned!in!the!Gospel!just!proclaimed! (cf.!Lk!22:14A20),!is!the!real!expression!of!that!unconditional!offering!of!Jesus!for!all,! even!for!those!who!betrayed!him.!It!was!the!offering!of!his!body!and!blood!for!the! life!of!mankind!and!for!the!forgiveness!of!sins.!His!blood,!a!sign!of!life,!was!given!to!