Madrid, Spain, Aug 20, 2011 / 14:14 pm
More than a million young people from around the world eagerly awaited Pope Benedict's arrival at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome for the World Youth Day 2011 vigil on August 20.
“We look forward to having time to pray together and meditate on our lives,” Salesian Society member Paola Felleti told CNA on August 20. She described the time in Madrid as an “intense week, with lots of great moments.”
Felletti's group of 8,000 Salesian Society pilgrims arrived at Cuatro Vientos around 2 p.m. She laughed as she recalled how the group spent the earlier hours of the day, mostly “trying to survive the hot weather (by) drinking water and just waiting for the sunset.”
She and a small group of other pilgrims entertained themselves by playing cards, as they sat on their mats and blankets.