The Marienfeld prayer vigil opened in remembrance of Pope John Paul II. There were about 800 thousand young people for the last but one appointment of this 20th World Youth Day which ends tomorrow with Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI. As soon as the Pope arrived on the stage he blessed a bell in memory of his predecessor. The following words were written on it: "I give praise to you, I proclaim you, the Pope blessed me and I will be called John Paul II". And the Vigil began with the bell tolls. Shortly before the song "Jerusalem, Jerusalem", he accompanied a slow procession approaching the Cross of the WYD towards the stage. Lit candles were placed on the sides of the passageway which leads to the altar. The Pope, smiling, stopped to greet the bishops and cardinals. From the top of the hill the Pope opened his arms out wide as if to embrace the hundreds of thousands of young people who responded with a great cry.
