Keep the Flame of Faith Burning - Cardinal Pell Encourages Wyd Pilgrims in Madrid

Katrina Lee, Director, Catholic Communications
18 Aug 2011

More than 10,000 young pilgrims from Australia and all corners of the globe gathered in Madrid yesterday to hear the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell give one of the first catechesis sessions at World Youth Day in Madrid.

Cardinal Pell's underlying message to the pilgrims was one of hope and encouragement.  He urged the young pilgrims to keep the flame of faith burning.

"Promise the flame of faith will not be extinguished on your watch," he said.

The Cardinal received a rousing, warm welcome at Madrid's Palacio de Deportes stadium which has been temporarily re-named the "Love and Life Centre."

The message for the pilgrims, including most of the nearly 4,000 Australian pilgrims also in Madrid, was emphatic  with Cardinal Pell explaining the clear and strong reasons behind the Catholic belief in the one true God.

"Christian belief is not a myth of just a useful make-believe story like Santa Claus," he said. "Our God is inherently rational. Our faith is not based on religious sentiment. Faith is a matter of the heart, an issue of the mind, because it is a claim to truth."

The Cardinal also threw out a challenge to the young pilgrims, telling them they were presented with two choices - whether our existence came about by chance or by supreme intelligence.

What did they think? He asked. He then presented the case for supreme intelligence, giving the thousands of young people much to think about and reflect upon.

Emphasising the point that science and religion are not at loggerheads, he said and quoted the late, former atheist and renowned philosopher, Anthony Flew who after turning his back on atheism at the end of his life to become a believer, said that the greatest discovery of modern science was God.

Anthony Flew became a believer through the discovery of DNA.

"We need to remember science is with us and that our God of love, that dynamo of love, is rational," the Cardinal said. "So let's commit ourselves to maintaining the light of our faith and that the flame doesn't die in your families or parishes."

Following the catechesis Cardinal Pell celebrated Mass with more than 1000 priests concelebrating. The Cardinal then distributed communion together with the concelebrating priests who moved through the massive crowd to every corner of the huge stadium.

Stationary cameras as well as a crane camera captured every moment of the Cardinal's catechesis at World Youth Day, which was then transmitted onto super-sized screen in order for 10,000 plus pilgrims present to see and hear every detail of events as they unfolded.

At another location in Madrid during the Cardinal's catechesis many of the 24 Australian bishops present at WYD11 were also taking part in a catechetical session and Mass.

Today, Thursday 18 August, excitement is building in anticipation of the arrival of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XV1 whose flight is due to touch down at Madrid Airport at 12 noon (8 pm AEST).

The Pontiff will be welcomed at the airport by Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia together with Church and Spanish government officials. He will then rest prior to attending a special youth welcome in the city in the early evening when he will be presented with the keys to the city

The Holy Father will then address the gathering in the city centre at Madrid's, Cibeles Square.

Security has been tightened around the Square with police "locking down" the area with officers on the ground and helicopters above the central streets leading to the square.

However hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have arrived in Madrid for WYD. More are expected following the arrival of Pope Benedict XV1 with some in Madrid suggesting more than 1.5 million may be at the closing Mass on Sunday at a former airfield on the outskirts of the city.

XT3 will have a LIVESTREAM of the Pope's arrival at 12 noon (8pm AEST) followed by his Official Welcome at 7.30pm (3.30am AEST) on www.xt3.com/wyd

This coverage will then be available a short time later on demand. Other key events with the Holy Father will also be streamed live. Details also at the above website.