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Address
of Monsignor Paul Russell
Charge d'Affairs a.i. of the Holy See at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on World Youth Day 2011 |
| Your Excellency
Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Shen, Your Excellency Bishop Chung, Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dear Young People and Friends in Christ, |
| I am grateful
for the invitation to join you here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
mark the safe and joyful return home of Taiwan's participants in World Youth
Day. With over 500 participants, Taiwan was very well represented at World
Youth Day, showing very clearly that the Catholic Church also has an Asian
and Taiwanese face. Those of you here who went to Spain did not go there as tourists, but as pilgrims. This means that the motivation for your journey was a spiritual motivation. You went to Spain to meet Jesus, but of course, you could not hope to meet Jesus there in Spain unless you also brought him with you from Taiwan. Last week, on 24 August, Pope Benedict XVI himself reflected on the experience of World Youth Day during the Wednesday General Audience. He said many beautiful things, which, as his Representative, are appropriate for me to share with you on this occasion. The words of the Pope: "I would like to return briefly in mind and heart to the extraordinary days spent in Madrid for the 26th World Youth Day. It was, as you know, a moving ecclesial event: approximately 2 million youth from every continent gathered for a truly exceptional experience of fraternity, of encounter with the Lord, of sharing and of growth in the faith: a true cascade of light. I thank God for this precious gift, which gives hope for the future of the Church: young people with the unwavering and sincere desire to root their lives in Christ, to remain firm in the faith, and to walk together with the Church. [¡K] Naturally I cannot describe in only a few words the intense moments we experienced. I have in mind the uncontainable enthusiasm with which the young people welcomed me the first day at Plaza de Cibeles, their words so rich in expectations; their strong desire to turn to the most profound truth and to root themselves in it -- that truth that God has given us to know in Christ. [¡K] That evening, in the celebration of the Way of the Cross, a variegated multitude of young people relived with great intensity the scenes of the passion and death of Christ: the cross of Christ gives much more than it demands -- it gives all, because it leads us to God. The following day [¡K] the evening Prayer Vigil and the great concluding Eucharistic Celebration the day after were two very intense moments: In the evening a great multitude of young people full of joy - and not at all intimidated by the rain and wind -- remained in silent adoration of Christ present in the Eucharist, to praise Him, to thank Him, to ask of Him help and light; and then on Sunday, the young people showed their exuberance and joy in celebrating the Lord in Word and Eucharist, in order that they might enter ever more deeply into Him and strengthen their faith and Christian life. [¡K] I left (Spain) carrying these days in my heart as a great gift. Dear friends, the meeting in Madrid was, first and foremost, a marvelous demonstration of faith -- for Spain and for the world. For the multitude of young people who had come from every corner of the world, it was a special occasion to reflect, discuss, exchange positive experiences and, above all, to pray together and to renew their commitment to root their own lives in Christ, the Faithful Friend. I am sure that they have returned home, and that they return there with the firm purpose of being a leaven in society by carrying the hope that is born of faith. For my part, I continue to accompany them in prayer, so that they might remain faithful to the commitments they have assumed. I entrust the fruits of this Day to the maternal intercession of Mary." Dear Friends, I hope that these words of the Pope also capture some of your own thoughts and feelings. I also hope that your experiences in Spain will be something you can share with your family and friends here at home, bringing more and more the light of Jesus to the dear people of Taiwan.
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