July 20, 2011. (Romereports.com)
For
two years it was taken to 70 dioceses around Spain. Now it's back
home in the Almudena Cathedral, where it stands next to the icon of
the Virgin Mary. The cross became the official symbol of World Youth
Day, after pope John Paul II gave it to a group of youths back in
1984.
Madrid's
Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela welcomed the Cross, which arrived
in Spain around Easter of 2009.
Since
then the cross has traveled roughly 15,000 miles. Along the way its
been greeted by tens of thousands of young people. Now it's time for
another tour. On July 30th,
it will visit different churches around Spain's capital.
Afterward,
the cross and the icon of the Virgin Mary will take center stage
during World Youth Day, which will take place from August 16th
to the 21st.
CB/KLH
JMJ Madrid 2011
GdP
-BN
