Action, not just memory” “” “

World Youth Day was celebrated a month ago, with over a million youth gathered round Benedict XVI, on his first foreign journey, in his native Germany. The country, which voted for the election of the new Parliament on 18 September – with the two leaders (Spd) and Merkel (Cdu-Csu) emerging almost neck and neck, so that the problem of forming the new Government now seems daunting –, remembers those days in Cologne (11-21 August) and repeats its “thanks” to the guests. In the meantime, again on the question of youth, the assembly of the Commission for the Media of the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (Ccee) was held in Warsaw in recent days and the annual meeting of the national delegates for university apostolate, again organized by the Ccee, is due to be held in Budapest from 23 to 25 September. Yes, Wyd changed our country. The duration of this change remains to be seen. But the effect of WYD can be felt: for its action is greater than its duration. 1.1 million people flocked to Marienfeld on 21 August to celebrate the conclusion of the feast of faith of “superlatives”: 188 nations were represented, almost 800 bishops present, over 9,000 priests – and the Pope. Not just its conclusion: the whole Wyd was a peaceful demonstration of the faith. What joie de vivre we perceived in the streets, what enthusiasm for Christ and for the Church, what yearning for spirituality on the part of the young! It was inspiring and, in spite of some organizational problems – inevitable in the case of events on this scale – it was a successful Wyd. The Germans, usually so “cold”, participated in the feast. They welcomed the young people with gratitude and in many cases they took their leave of them with tears in their eyes. The Germans of the Rhineland are, in comparison with the rest of Germany, perhaps those whose mentality is most similar to that of people south of the Alps who have more spontaneous lightness of being, serenity and cordiality. That’s why we remember with gratitude not only the days in Cologne but also our guests: they gave us the gift of their cordiality, their friendship, their smiles! To the youth of the world Germany wishes to say once again “thank you!”. “Will Germany take note that WYD is happening?”. This too was the question that agitated people’s minds at the beginning. 10,400 minutes of transmission on TV, over 30,000 articles in the press, 8,263 accredited journalists are just some of the figures that demonstrate that the nation did indeed take note of WYD. Communities, participants, organizers and especially society as a whole did so. What’s more: with WYD and the visit of the Pope, the German Catholic Church assumed a new importance. This assertion is made in no triumphal manner. Rather, it means that people are taking note of us, that we are accepted. It was therefore an explosion of joy that was triggered off by the young, and that spread contagiously to the whole country. WYD was not a transient situation, an event limited to the pastoral service to youth, with all the characteristics of a “one off” event: on the contrary, it was a feast of faith and of joy. This faith demonstrated that the Church must not barricade itself behind its walls, but must have the courage to bear witness to its own faith in the streets. Now it’s important that people be not left just with the memory, but that they act: the youth apostolate, motivated by the WYD, needs to be taken forward. And it is for this that we say once again: thank you!