Recently, I traveled to Lisbon, Portugal, for World Youth Day. Even though I was not able to take part in all the events surrounding this event, I was there long enough to absorb something of its spirit and to be inspired by what I saw and heard.
Lisbon is a beautiful city, with amazing architecture, churches, culture and food. It is one of the oldest dioceses in the world, a patriarchal see, dating to the fourth century. And it is home to more than 1.5 million Catholics.
But World Youth Day made Lisbon one of the youngest places on earth. More than a million young pilgrims came to Lisbon to pray and celebrate with one another, and to enjoy the company of Pope Francis. Walking through the streets of Lisbon, I was surrounded by young adults on every side, speaking many languages, waving their flags and singing. Joy was in the air and peace in the streets. The numbers were large but there were scarcely any incidents. These young people were a different kind of a crowd.
Like many others, I marveled at the size of the crowd and how well World Youth Day was organized. The size and scope of this event gives some sense of the church’s vitality. This is important to remember at a time when many believe that the church’s decline is inevitable.
But to really appreciate World Youth Day, one must look deeper – to the experiences of countless individual pilgrims. It wasn’t just the breadth of the event that was impressive but also its depth. Many young people experienced a spiritual awakening. Many who came to Lisbon perhaps not knowing what to expect were overtaken by the presence of Christ. Some experienced conversion. Others encountered Christ more deeply. Many went to confession. Others opened their hearts to the vocation to which the Lord is calling them. Still others experienced healing of mind, heart and body.
Yes, World Youth Day was more than an antidote to the isolation and anger that are so much a part of today’s culture. It was an event, a moment in history, when Christ’s presence in the power of the Holy Spirit was experienced, an experience that happened precisely by coming together, by journeying together in trust and friendship. But this led to more than generalized good feelings. It led to deep personal faith and joy.
I was especially happy to catch up with many of the Baltimore pilgrims. I had Mass and breakfast with them at their hotel on Saturday, before they left to take part in an all-night vigil prior to the closing Sunday Mass. Our gathering had a hometown feel to it, but there was also great happiness to be part of something larger. That night, as the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for adoration, the crowd of more than a million people fell silent as the Lord’s heart spoke to theirs and brought us together like no one else could.
And what a joy to see Pope Francis! He showed up in a wheelchair but was clearly young at heart, as he departed from his prepared text and spoke directly to the huge crowd, telling them not to be afraid, inviting them to be open their hearts to Christ, and to take their rightful place in the heart of the Church.
Let us be realistic about the departure of many young people from the church. But let us not lose hope and succumb to the fatalistic view that the decline of the church is evitable. Rather, let us catch the spirit of these young people as we continue our mission to be in Christ Jesus “a light brightly visible!”
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