October 7, 2010. The upcoming World Youth Day 2011 will be a very large meeting, characterized by the use of new social networks. That’s according to the event’s organizers at a presentation at the Vatican. It will be the second World Youth Day in Spain. The first was in 1989 in Santiago de Compostela.
Card. Antonio Maria Rouco Varela
President, Spanish Bishops Conference
"We and all of the country’s bishops felt that for the Church and young people in Spain, this could again be a big boost for youth ministry, for the good of the church and for society in Spain".
Bishop Josef Clemens
Secretary, Pontifical Council for the Laity
"The biggest challenge will be to show, in a very secular society, that there are many young people who are interested in the faith, who want to live their faith and increase their faith."
Currently 170,000 people are registered through the Internet and 600,000 more are expected. But registration only measures about 25 percent of the total participants.
Given the large numbers expected, families in the city are offering to accommodate the young pilgrims.
At the same time, to facilitate entry into the country, the Government of Spain will arrange special means to obtain visas.
A key part of the event are volunteers. Currently 7,000 are registered.
Marķa de Jaureguizar
Communication Department, WYD Madrid 2011
“We will need 18,000 young people to help us in all kinds and work. Logistics work, to assist pilgrims, to pick up pilgrims in certain places, for example in airports."
The organizers hope this meeting will bring young people to Jesus, and at the same time have fun with the other pilgrims.
PVB
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