Today’s challenges

“We want to be a Church, the testimonies of God to the world, we want to be guided by the thrust of the Spirit. We want everyone to know about Jesus and his redeeming power”. This commitment is the engine that is bringing the youth to Sydney for the World Youth Day, according to cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid and President of Spain’s Bishops’ Conference, who came to Australia along with over 5,000 Spanish youth. Tending towards goodness. “Families in Spain are undergoing a very difficult moment: present legislation doesn’t act in their support, while current cultural models have nothing to do with God’s plan for the goodness of mankind”, Cardinal Rouco Varela denounced to Sir. These socially-imposed models “hinder the formation of Christian families, preventing the transmission of faith. But if faith is not transmitted, it will be hard for the youth to believe in Christ”. “Europe should be united in tending towards goodness – he pointed out -. It should not degrade itself into accepting compromises which are the result of lawless relativism”. Bringing the youth close to the Gospel. In order to counter growing secularization, His Eminence remarked, “new ways ought to be found to bring the youth closer to the Gospel and to its message. In particular, it is necessary to they understand the values of marriage, of family and of life”. On this front, he declared, we must recall “the vigorous commitment of John Paul” whose wake is followed “with equal determination by Benedict XVI”. Spain’s youth in particular, mindful of the strong Christian tradition of their Country, “should be engaged in recovering the elements which had always pertained to Europe: a continent enlightened by faith coming from Christ, a continent where it is possible to cherish hope”. The ultimate horizon. Education, the family and secularity are daily-debated issues in Spain. A polemic recently sparked off regarding the introduction of school courses in “education to citizenship”, proposed by President Zapatero’s Government. To this regard, a critical view was expressed by Msgr. Gregorio Roldán , delegate for Youth Pastoral Care in Madrid’s archdiocese. “The State – he affirmed – wishes to impose its ethical criteria expecting these to be the sole points of reference, and that they be accepted by everyone. As Christians we reject this claim, since the ultimate horizon can’t consist in the State’s stand or the government’s provision”. “For Christians, the first and ultimate horizon, the alpha and the omega, is God”. Thus, the Church has a “prophetic task”. Beyond the “strictly human horizon, determined by the governments in power, there is God, who is and always remains the truth”. Un good omen for the next WYD. “It’s typical of Spain to always participate with a large number of generous young people”, added the representative of Madrid’s Pastoral Youth, while noting the multitude of Spanish pilgrims in the streets holding flags and singing songs. “The effort needed to take part in this event, which enabled us to be here on the other side of the world, is the sign that we feel we are the youth of the Church and want to speak the words of the Gospel to the world”. The prelate pointed out that John Paul II before and Benedict XVI today, have the “power to attract the youth towards the Church”. “The youth ought to have a strong Christian thought and identity and a sense of belonging to the Church in order to be the testimonies of Jesus Christ in a society which ignores what a Cathedral is!”. Finally, a good omen: “As Madrilenians, we are hoping that Benedict XVI will call the next WYD in Spain, perhaps in our same city. For the moment, it’s just a hope. Who knows whether on Sunday 20 it may turn into reality…” Msgr. Roldàn declared.