Saturday, August 13, 2011

WYD 2011: The challenge for youngsters caught between hosannas and protests

The Church’s spring

One week away from the start of World Youth Day raises readers’ suspense, especially for the arrival of Benedict XVI and preparations are well underway. 

After the preparations that have gone on over last few days, Spain is ready to welcome youngsters in the Country’s 68 dioceses and the preparatory catecheses that will be held by 270 bishops from all over the world, in 30 different languages. 

WYD in Madrid is being proclaimed as a “kind of Pentecost”: Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity confirmed this in a comment on Vatican Radio: “It will be an important ecclesiastical event, a celebration of Church youth, a fascinating expression of young faith, full on enthusiasm and missionary dynamism. Today’s world, especially our continent, Europe, is in great need of an expression of faith such as this…WYDs have become an integral part of the Church’s pastoral care for young generations. And this time, it is the Church of Spain that is being consulted in particular. The period of preparation for WYD was a very special time, during which the Spanish Church was able, in a sense, to rediscover itself, its great spiritual resources, and above all, the hidden resources of its youngsters.”

Picking up on the Pope’s “Rooted and based in Christ, firm in the faith” theme, the President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity said that “The post-modern world is going through a deep and difficult crisis. A diffused relativism is creating a dangerous gap in values and in consciousness. The post-modern culture is a “liquid” culture, without stable points of reference. As a consequence, it breeds humans who have no roots, without any solid foundations in their existence… In such a situation there is a growing need, especially among youngsters, to find the true roots to their human and Christian identity as well as the need for solid foundations on which to build their lives.”

A part from the young Catholics and believers, Cardinal Rylko hopes to establish a dialogue with non believers during the World Youth Day and encourage them to join in the event: “The Holy Father would like all youngsters, whether they share in the belief in Jesus Christ or hesitant, doubtful and do not believe in Him, to live this experience which could prove to be a turning point int heir lives: the experience of the Lord who was resurrected and lives on, and his love for each and every one of us.” During these 25 years of history, the days have become extremely efficient instruments in the evangelisation of youngsters, the protagonists of which are the youngsters themselves. The Blessed John Paul II liked to define WYD as a laboratory of young faith.”

The Indignados protest

From the proposal and hope of a big celebration of faith, to the anger of a Spanish and European generation that feels ever more excluded, without a role to play in contemporary society. 

The movement that is crossing the Old Continent is sending out messages to political and financial leaders to give the new generations the opportunity to grow and become adults through employment, research, freedom, a guaranteed future.

For them, WYD will be the stage for an unforgettable opportunity to express their anger and they are preparing a number of demonstrations throughout Benedict XVI’s visit, which will be taking place between 18 and 21 August.
 
The Spanish daily newspaper El País said the initiative of the Indignados would be phenomenal and not in any way lenient towards the Pope. 

Demonstrators are allegedly preparing a “Via Crucis riddled with demands,” they are setting up information points in the places where the pilgrims will meet, and are also organising a demonstration which is meant to take place during the WYD inauguration mass which is due to take place in the Plaza de Cibeles.
 
The “indignados”, the newspaper wrote, have also contacted members of other lay and feminist associations that are critical of the Pope’s visit, in an attempt to “join forces” in organising these demonstrations. 

On 2 August, Spanish police evacuated the “indignados” that had been camping in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol area and the city centre.

The demonstrators claimed the operation was aimed at “cleaning out the square” for Benedict XVI’s visit, and protested by throwing balloons, soap bubbles and paper aeroplanes.