There are some moments that I know I will retain in my memory
forever. The Papal Youth Rally is definitely one of those
times. Sitting to the left of the stage, I will never forget
looking out at the 25,000 people in the field awaiting the
Pontiff. So moving was the thousands of people on their feet,
cheering, and waving the white and yellow handkerchiefs given to
us; the Pope could get the crowd to stop cheering.
The Pope’s smile will forever be pictured in my head. I
could tell by his smiling that he was truly happy to be with the
youth of the church. While he attempted to quiet the crowd
when he first arrived, the energy and excitement of the crowd
carried us and nothing could stop the cheering. The Pontiff
first attempted to raise his arms to quiet us but then decided to
embrace our cheers and encourage us, approaching the crowd on the
extensions of the stage.
The crowd would have cheered and chanted if the Pope just stood
there and said nothing but when he did speak the crowd went even
wilder. The Pontiff’s remarks continued on with his message of
“Christ Our Hope”. I was reminded that the Pope is still a
person in his forgetting one part of his speech, he got so caught
up in the crowd’s cheers he forgot his address in Spanish. His
additional remarks caused the Spanish speaking portion of the rally
to hear the Pope’s words. At the rally he identified with us;
he came to us, cheered us, and addressed us.
I think everyone at the rally saw a loving Pontiff who came to
speak to the youth and we all got to see another side of the
Pope. I know that I have become inspired by him and will
always remember his smile and message, as well as his devotion to
the youth who are the now and the future of the Church. The
rally proved to me that the youth of the Church are a vibrant faith
community.