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17 Aug 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Dear young people, The day we have all been waiting for has arrived: the inauguration of the 26th World Youth Day. 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. “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Ps. 118: 26). With the words of the psalmist I extend a cordial welcome and affectionate greeting on behalf of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the department of the Holy See entrusted by the Pope with the organisation of world meetings of young people. I also greet your bishops, priests, religious and lay leaders who have come here with you and have guided you on your journey of spiritual preparation for this great adventure of faith that we shall experience together for the next few days. 
You have come to this meeting with the Holy Father Benedict XVI bringing with you all your plans and hopes, as well as your concerns and apprehensions about the choices that lie ahead. These will be days that you will never forget, days of important discoveries and decisions that will be decisive for your future. Our reflection and prayer over the next few days will be guided by the words of Saint Paul that you know so well: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf Col 2:7). This is very demanding because it contains a definite life plan for each one of us. Faith will be at the centre 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. Many of us might wonder: in our world today where God is often rejected and people live as if God did not exist, is it still possible to have faith? 
Dear young people! You are gathered here in Madrid after having come from the most remote corners of the planet. You have come to say aloud to the whole world – and in particular to Europe which is showing signs of being very lost – your unwavering “yes”! Yes, faith is possible. It is in fact a wonderful adventure that allows us to discover the magnitude and beauty of our lives. This is because God, revealed in the face of Christ, does not put human beings down. God exalts us beyond all measure and beyond our wildest imaginings! For the next few days, together with the apostles, we all want to shout aloud to the Lord: “Increase our faith!” (Lk 17:5). Like Saint Anselmo, we too want to pray: Lord, “Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me as I seek, because I can neither seek you if you do not teach me how, nor find you unless you reveal yourself (Proslogion 1:1). 
As we await the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, we have welcomed a special guest this evening to WYD in Madrid. Blessed John Paul II has come back to you, the young people that he loved so much, and who was equally loved by you. He has returned as your blessed patron and as a protector in whom you can trust. He has returned as a friend – a demanding friend, as he liked to call himself. He has come to say to you yet again and with much affection: Do not be afraid! Choose to have Christ in your lives and to possess the precious pearl of the Gospel for which it is worthwhile giving everything! Dear young people! The 2011 World Youth Day in Madrid has begun! Once again I say to you: welcome to you all to Madrid!
Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko
President, Pontifical Council for the Laity
Plaza Cibeles, 16 August 2011
Photo Gallery Press Area
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16 Aug 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
On August 13, the international performing arts group Gen Rosso performed at World Youth Day to an audience of over 30,000 young people who travelled to Spain from all over the world. The concert was in preparation for the 26th occurrence of this great youth event, already underway. The Gen Rosso musicians write: “The majority of the young people staying in the host city of Barcelona have come from France, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, but also from Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, Canada, Uganda, Syria…”. The cardinal of Barcelona, Msgr Luis Martinez Sistach, challenged the young people present from all over the world “to love every person without distinction, but to have a preferential love for the poor”, encouraging them to imitate Jesus by following Mary’s example. “To love people indiscriminately” – state the members of the Gen Rosso band – “seemed to be the perfect admission ticket to our evening concert!” The band is not new to World Youth Days. We ask them what they expect from this one in Madrid: “Today many young people react against a system that doesn’t think about them; the WYD is another expression of rebellion, but not against something or someone, but to promote the Gospel values that Jesus left us”. 
Fresh from tours in Cuba, Jamaica, China, Morocco, we ask them to give us a brief impression: “There’s so much to say… but we have to summarise it in an SMS! A common denominator that we found, here too, is that of seeing that a united world is possible, that it is not a utopia. We found so many young people in these countries, all different, yet extremely willing to share our values and adhere to the ideals of universal brotherhood”. The concert you presented is new: “Indelible Dimension”. What is it about and what do you want to convey to spectators? “As always, Gen Rosso tries to show its identity through its concerts. ‘Indelible Dimension’ has something more: it aims to convey the indelible marks left in our souls through coming directly in contact with so many young people from all over the world. A great number of them have become part of our lives and we of theirs. This ‘dimension’ goes straight to the heart of the spectator as well“. The day after the August 13 concert, a Catalan newspaper highlighted the group’s international identity, lived in a spirit of brotherhood, as the quintessential essential element to build a cohesive society in today’s times. “Our hearts are filled with gratitude towards God” – state the ‘Genrossians’ – “for giving us this first beautiful moment with the Barcelona youth. Here we found a youthful and lively Church! Now Madrid awaits us!”
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16 Aug 2011 | Non categorizzato
Video (Italian soundtrack only)
Faith in God’s love gives all of them the strength to risk everything in life in order to be faithful to this extraordinary vocation of acting like children of God, of leading a life in union with their Father in heaven, of having the Father, God‑Love as the Ideal of their life. They have placed Him foremost in all their thoughts and have given Him first place in their hearts. And by doing so, all their aspirations have been totally fulfilled. With Him they have found the fullness of joy and happiness, that happiness which today, in every corner of the world, young people are striving to have as the ideal of their lives. But they rarely find it because they often search for it in possessions, in “having” more than in “being”, in entertainment or in purely earthly goals. 
Furthermore, because our young people know that God not only created the universe and them, but that He is present throughout the course of history and guides it, they are convinced that He has wonderful plans also for each one of them. Thus while the majority of young people today consider only their immediate future, making only short‑term decisions and putting off the more demanding choices, our young people make plans for their lives but not only from their own point of view. They seek to harmonize their personal actions with the actions of God’s providence in the world. This is why they place themselves on the ray of His divine will and live it to the fullest, fully aware that they have set out, along with many others, on a wonderful divine adventure. Chiara Lubich
15 Aug 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
“My name is Sandra, I’ve been an entrepreneur for thirty years. At present I’m the owner and director of some handicraft companies. I work in designing with tropical fabrics from Amazonia, and I do research in that region. I’ve always been sensitive to the needs of those who are less favoured. I’d say that it’s part of my nature to dedicate myself to those who are most in need of help and solidarity. As a young woman I worked with prisoners in a jail. Then I became the director of a business. I’ve always tried to use my knowledge to promote others by offering vocational training and job opportunities. In 1999 a family tragedy changed my life completely. In a single moment that marvellous “island” I was living on completely crumbled. The earth was taken from beneath my feet. I was desperate. During this dramatic period, this painful period, I deepened my relationship with some friends in the focolare, whom I had met three years earlier. I found much support in them and gradually I was able to lift myself up again. Coming to know the experience of Chiara Lubich, it was as if a reflection of her light was giving me the hope of finding a way out at the end of the tunnel. I realized that her example was contagious towards me. Thus I had the strength to begin again. In 2009 I attended the Congress on Dialogue for people with no religious conviction at Mariapolis Ginetta, the Focolare town near San Paolo. It made me feel motivated and I entered into concrete collaboration with them. A possibility was found for opening a course on making handicrafts with coconut fibre and “buriti” palms, which are native to Brazil. Coming from a family of specialists in using vegetable fibres, I create a job that not only increased the workforce, but also secured the conservation of the environment. And Project Ratan was born. At present our workshop is active three times a week and is frequented by a group of eight youths who work there. They are followed by a worker from one of my factories, and I provide the supervision and targeting of designs. The products are useful for decorations, like vases, decorated boxes, with woven designs. At the end of last year, we had a cultural afternoon during which we presented our work and sold some pieces. Quest’anno è già iniziata una seconda tappa del corso, con l’ampliamento dei lavori. Essendo un corso professionale, i giovani potranno essere inseriti poi nel mercato del lavoro. Le iscrizioni sono in crescita.This year the second phase has already begun with the expansion of the work. Since it is a professional course, the youths will be equipped to insert themselves into the work market. Enrolment is on the rise. This project has been a gift for me. I realize that I also receive so much and, at times, much more than they. I feel such enormous joy at being able to collaborate in some way. From the moment I dedicated myself to this project, I felt reborn. And for as long as I live, I hope to continue working for this cause.” S.G.
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14 Aug 2011 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
Thousands of young people from all over the world will converge on Madrid for WYD 2011. There is a lot of joy and enthusiasm among those working for this event. Everything is set to go – one has to only follow the posts on Facebook or Twitter, or keep track of what’s happening on the official website.
The Holy Father has chosen as the theme for WYD 2011 a phrase from the Apostle Paul: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.” (Colossians, 2:7). Here are some passages from his message for WYD2011 dated 6 August 2010. But the entire document is worth a read.
Dear Friends,
(…) Now we are looking forward to the next World Youth Day, to be held in Madrid in August 2011. Back in 1989, several months before the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, this pilgrimage of young people halted in Spain, in Santiago de Compostela. (…) i would like all young people – those who share our faith in Jesus Christ, but also those who are wavering or uncertain, or who do not believe in him – to share this experience, which can prove decisive for their lives. It is an experience of the Lord Jesus, risen and alive, and of his love for each of us.
(…) Many young people experience a deep desire for personal relationships marked by truth and solidarity. Many of them yearn to build authentic friendships, to know true love, to start a family that will remain united, to achieve personal fulfilment and real security, all of which are the guarantee of a serene and happy future…. In thinking of my own youth, I realize that stability and security are not the questions that most occupy the minds of young people. True enough, it is important to have a job and thus to have firm ground beneath our feet, yet the years of our youth are also a time when we are seeking to get the most out of life. When I think back on that time, I remember above all that we were not willing to settle for a conventional middle-class life. We wanted something great, something new… Part of being young is desiring something beyond everyday life … Is this simply an empty dream that fades away as we become older? No! Men and women were created for something great, for infinity. Nothing else will ever be enough. Saint Augustine was right when he said “our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you”. The desire for a more meaningful life is a sign that God created us and that we bear his “imprint”. God is life, and that is why every creature reaches out towards life. Because human beings are made in the image of God, we do this in a unique and special way. We reach out for love, joy and peace.
(…) You are the future of society and of the Church! As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians of Colossae, it is vital to have roots, a solid foundation! This is particularly true today. Many people have no stable points of reference on which to build their lives, and so they end up deeply insecure. There is a growing mentality of relativism, which holds that everything is equally valid, that truth and absolute points of reference do not exist. But this way of thinking does not lead to true freedom, but rather to instability, confusion and blind conformity to the fads of the moment. As young people, you are entitled to receive from previous generations solid points of reference to help you to make choices and on which to build your lives: like a young plant which needs solid support until it can sink deep roots and become a sturdy tree capable of bearing fruit.
In order to highlight the importance of faith in the lives of believers, I would like to reflect with you on each of the three terms used by Saint Paul in the expression: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). We can distinguish three images: “planted” calls to mind a tree and the roots that feed it; “built up” refers to the construction of a house; “firm” indicates growth in physical or moral strength. These images are very eloquent.
(…) Dear friends, build your own house on rock, just like the person who “dug deeply”. Try each day to follow Christ’s word. Listen to him as a true friend with whom you can share your path in life. With him at your side, you will find courage and hope to face difficulties and problems, and even to overcome disappointments and set-backs.
(…) “Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 150). Thus you will acquire a mature and solid faith, one which will not be based simply on religious sentiment or on a vague memory of the catechism you studied as a child. You will come to know God and to live authentically in union with him, like the Apostle Thomas who showed his firm faith in Jesus in the words: “My Lord and my God!”.
(…) “Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 166).
(…) The victory born of faith is that of love. There have been, and still are, many Christians who are living witnesses of the power of faith that is expressed in charity. They have been peacemakers, promoters of justice and workers for a more humane world, a world in accordance with God’s plan. With competence and professionalism, they have been committed in different sectors of the life of society, contributing effectively to the welfare of all. The charity that comes from faith led them to offer concrete witness by their actions and words. Christ is not a treasure meant for us alone; he is the most precious treasure we have, one that is meant to be shared with others. In our age of globalization, be witnesses of Christian hope all over the world.… if you believe, and if you are able to live out your faith and bear witness to it every day, you will become a means of helping other young people like yourselves to find the meaning and joy of life, which is born of an encounter with Christ!
(…) The decision to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow him is not an easy one. It is hindered by our personal failures and by the many voices that point us towards easier paths. Do not be discouraged. Rather, look for the support of the Christian community (…) Dear young people, the Church depends on you!
Benedictus PP. XVI
Vatican, 6 August 2010.
