August 18, 2011. (Romereports.com) The pope arrived in Madrid's Barajas airport at roughly midday on Thrursday where he was greeted by the country's royal family.


But before that, Benedict XVI held a press conference on the plane with the 56 journalists who flew with him during that two and a half hour flight.

He said, he's excited to take part in World Youth Day. In fact, he described the gathering a “cascade of light where faith is visible.”

The pope also talked about Spain's deep economic crisis. The unemployment rate is roughly 20 percent, but among young adults it's even higher, reaching close to 45 percent.

According to the pope, part of the solution lies in not making economic growth the only priority, but rather, finding the common good to help others.