"Sentinels of the morning"” “” “

The 17th World Youth Day is now in full swing. Over 200,000 youth are due to meet the Pope at 5.00 pm, local time on 25 July. Below we present some brief comments by Cardinal Lehmann and Msgr. Lalanne and the testimonies of some young people who have arrived in Toronto from Europe. A small miracle. World Youth Day “is always a small miracle”. That’s the view of Cardinal Karl Lehmann, archbishop of Mainz and president of the German Bishops’ Conference, who is present in Toronto for WYD, also symbolically to preside over the handover for the next Day that will be held in Cologne in 2005. “WYD has become throughout the world an extraordinary means for the youth apostolate – Lehmann told SirEurope –. It’s very important also to make young people responsible for the construction of the society of the future”. According to Cardinal Lehmann, the WYDs have led to a reinforcement of the sense of unity and understanding between the young throughout the world. As far as Germany is concerned, it’s always an important occasion to enable our youth to experience the joy of the faith and the enthusiasm for the Gospel”. Happy to be in the midst of the young. “Descending unaided the stairs from his plane, the Pope demonstrated how happy he was to be once again in the midst of the young and this joy has given him new physical strength”. That’s the first impression that Msgr. Stanislas Lalanne, general secretary of the French Episcopal Conference had of the Pope on his arrival in Toronto. “The Pope – added Lalanne – is a tired man, weighed down by illness, but the young feel that behind this man there is a close link between what he says and what he does, between word and life”. Some 9,000 young people have arrived from France. To finance their journey, Lalanne explains, “there was a strong contest in solidarity between the Christian communities” and “for those who were unable to come, various events have been planned to enable them to experience the Day at a distance, also through live video links with Toronto, marches, catechesis and prayer vigils”. What is the secret of the “close link that exists between the Pope and the young?” “The young know that the Pope loves them and has faith in them. In Rome he called them ‘sentinels of the morning’ and for this WYD he gave them the message that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world; though recognizing the difficulties they have in living the faith, he has faith in them”. The “voice” of Europe. Margareth is twenty. She has arrived in Toronto together with 28 others from Rzeszow ( Poland). She did all in her power to get to Toronto because “the experience I had at the WYD in Rome was too strong. The atmosphere of those days, and especially of the meeting with the Pope during which I wept the whole time, have remained indelibly impressed on my mind”. Anne-Céline and Aurèlie, both 23 years old, come from Strasbourg ( France). Before joining the other young people in Toronto, they were guests of the Philippine community in Montreal. “Over the last few days – says Aurélie – we’ve understood that even a simple smile may bring comfort and joy to someone who is lonely and sad”. “We would like to bring this experience of faith and of joy also into our own community”. From Viana do Castelo ( Portugal) nine young pilgrims have arrived in Toronto. “The journey – says Sandra (25 years old), a teacher – was too expensive. To be able to come here I had to make many sacrifices”. At her side is Nuno, 24 years old; this is his second WYD. “At Rome – he recalls – I found a special peace that enabled me to open myself to others”. Especially numerous and lively is the group of youth from Frankfurt ( Germany): there’s a hundred of them and they dance, sing, laugh and jump for joy. The next WYD will he held in their country. “We want to offer young people throughout the world – says 17-year-old Maja – the same welcome that we received here, especially in the families who accepted us as guests”. Maria Chiara Biagioni and Patrizia Caiffa SIR correspondents in toronto