FRIDAYAugust 25, 2000 volume 11, no. 150
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NEWS for Friday, August 25, 2000
VATICAN CITY, AUGUST 23 (ZENIT.org).-World Youth Day 2000 was
one of the most important and unexpected events of this pontificate.
Even today, John Paul II was deeply moved. He expressed this during the
Wednesday general audience this morning.
A good part of the 40,000 pilgrims present were youths who wished to see
the Holy Father again; they waved their hats and handkerchiefs in sheer
joy. For two hours, last weekend's spirit at Tor Vergata was relived.
The Pope responded, by dedicating virtually the whole meeting this
morning to reminiscing about the time he spent with two million youths
last week. Great SurpriseThe Pope began by saying, "Last week Rome experienced an unforgettable event. My mind goes back to this really extraordinary meeting, which went beyond all expectations and, I would also say, beyond all human expectation."The Holy Father recalled his helicopter flight over the immense Tor Vergata field. "From on high, I was able to admire a unique and impressive spectacle: an enormous human carpet of people celebrating, happy to be together. I will never forget the enthusiasm of those youths. I would have liked to embrace all of them and to express to each one the affection that unites me to the youth of our time, to whom the Lord entrusts a great mission in the service of the civilization of love," the Pope said. Encounter with Christ"What have these youths come to look for if not Jesus Christ? What is World Youth Day if not a personal and communal encounter with the Lord, who gives real meaning to human existence?" Responding to these questions, the Holy Father said: "In fact, it was Christ himself who first sought them and called them, as he seeks and calls every human being, to lead him to salvation and the fullness of happiness. At the end of the meeting, it was he who entrusted to youth the singular mission to be his witnesses in every corner of the earth. These were days marked by the discovery of a friendly presence, that of Jesus Christ, whose birth 2000 years ago we celebrate."The youths, "beyond all races and cultures, feel they are brothers and sisters united by the same faith, the same hope, and the same mission: to light up the world with the love of God," the Pontiff exclaimed. "I would like to reiterate to all youths: you must feel proud of the mission that the Lord has entrusted to you, and carry it forward with humble and generous perseverance," the Pope concluded. ZE00082305
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