after the 20th wyd " "
The blog where exponents of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference speak of their experiences as pilgrims at the 20th WYD will remain open till 31 August. Apart from the accounts of Spanish cardinals, the comments section is also full of the reactions of the young themselves, and not only those of Iberian nationality (Chile, Argentina, USA, Portugal, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Belgium, among others as well as Spain). The diary was opened on 15 August with a comment by Bishop Ricardo Blazquez Perez of Bilbao, president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference. The accounts of immediate experiences and sensations have been followed by comments after the return from Cologne. José Gomez Gonzalez, bishop of Lugo, recalls the vigil at Marienfeld: “I was struck he writes by the presence of so many youth, both tired and happy, some in contemplative attitudes, silent and dedicated to prayer; others who accompanied the disabled in the search for reconciliation with God and with their fellowmen”. “God has given us a Pope who will lead the Church in a journey of truth and authenticity”, says Archbishop Francisco Gil Hellin of Burgos, who declares how impressed he was by Benedict XVI’s condemnation of Nazism, by his fervent appeal for unity between all Christians and with Jews and Muslims, and by his “sensibility” to the question of vocations to the priesthood, “temple of discernment he writes in constant dialogue with Christ and of formation for mission”. A “new opportunity to reflect on the Church that lives through the young who offer us a horizon of hope”: that is Archbishop Julian Barrio Barrio of Santiago de Compostela’s reaction to WYD. “Now we must concern ourselves with our future journey at the side of the young he adds . WYD was a sign of hope for the youth apostolate: the young, with their participation, demonstrated they were not mere spectators of the present, but that they also want to be protagonists as prophets of hope. It is our duty to accompany them in this journey”. http://www.conferenciaepiscopal.es/ceas/juventud/colonia2005/weblog.htm
