Madrid, Spain, Aug 16, 2011 / 16:21 pm
Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko welcomed the more than 500,000 young people who flooded the Plaza de Cibeles at the World Youth Day Madrid 2011 opening Mass on Aug. 16.
“The day we have all been waiting for has arrived,” Cardinal Rylko, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, said. “After a long path of preparation you are finally here in Madrid, a beautiful modern city that will be the world capital of Catholic youth for the next few days...”
The cardinal reminded all those present that the motto for World Youth Day 2011 is “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.” He said that this reflection “is very demanding because it contains a definite life plan for each one of us. Faith will be at the center of our reflection at this time. Faith is a decisive factor in each person’s life.”
“Everything changes according to whether God exists or not. Faith is like a root that is nourished by the lifeblood of the word of God and the sacraments. It is the foundation, the rock on which life is built, the dependable compass that guides our choices and gives clear direction to our lives.”