(From our correspondents in Sydney) The announcement that the next World Youth Day will be held in Madrid in 2011, given by the Pope after the recitation of the Angelus at Randwick, "is good news not only for Spain, but also for Europe and for the whole Church". That’s the first comment given to SIR by Mgr. Juan Antonio Reig Pla, Bishop of Cartagena. "Our problems, as country and as continent, are much the same as those denounced by the Pope in Australia: galloping secularism and the questions posed by religious freedom. But undoubtedly Spain has, at the present time, specific problems of its own, linked to the radical nature of our government, which is placing in question the sacredness of life, marriage, the family and the Christian roots of our country". Mgr. Pla emphasises, however, that "we await the Holy Father with confidence, and what he has to say will be very important for us". We also hope to receive from him useful guidelines "for taking forward our commitment to the evangelization of youth and of families, who have the task of forming and educating these youngsters".
