Lunch with Pope in Madrid, an unforgettable experience for 12 pilgrims

Madrid, Spain, Aug 20, 2011 / 10:38 am (CNA/EWTN News).- World Youth Day volunteers who were selected to have lunch with Pope Benedict XVI on August 19 experienced a relaxed, communal and exciting atmosphere, sharing their thoughts and experiences.

“The Pope was very happy, (and) laughed with all of us. That is a side of him that I wish more people would know, because it is not well known,” said 33-year old Juan Carlos Piedra, from Ecuador, in an interview with CNA.

Piedra was one of twelve World Youth Day 2011 volunteers who got to share a meal with the Pope after his name was drawn from a pool of 30,000 others. The globally diverse group spoke English, Italian, French, Spanish and German over lunch at the Ambassadors Lounge of the Apostolic Nunciature, according to Piedra.

The conversation was very casual, and each of the selected youth told the Pope “our worries, desires and the people we represented,” Piedra explained.

“He transmitted serenity to us, because at first we did not know what to say, we did not know what to do while everyone arrived.”

Claire Brown, a 22-year old Australian, told CNA that having lunch with the Pope was “an amazing experience.”

For Brown, World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney was “an incredible experience that inspired many in Australia to grow in the Catholic faith.” This year, 4,000 Australians have come to Madrid, “the largest group of pilgrims from my country that there has ever been at World Youth Day.”

“The chance to be with the Holy Father and youth around is something I will never forget,” she said.

>>“The Pope was very happy, (and) laughed with all of us. That is a side of him that I wish more people would know, because it is not well known,” said 33-year old Juan Carlos Piedra, from Ecuador, in an interview with CNA.<<

Truly — this Pope seems somber to the point of severe, especially compared to his predecessor.

Good to hear he has a light side.

Truly — this Pope seems somber to the point of severe, especially compared to his predecessor.

Outward appearances can be quite deceiving. Consider that as successor to Peter in a direct line of descent from the first Apostle on whom the Catholic Church was built, Pope Benedict XVI carries the weight of the worldwide church on his shoulders. That includes suffering through scandals, fighting secularization and nihilism which have overtaken so many throughout the world, witnessing the martyrdom of innocent christians, and the list goes on and on.

Youth, growing up in a socialist nation where unemployment is near 40%, gay marriage and abortion are legal, struggle daily to remain faithful to their christian values. His message to these youth and, for that matter, ALL catholics, is to embrace the cross of Christ, lift up their hearts and carry His message to all the world. We must never give up hope!

I am watching the live coverage right now. With no exaggeration, more than a million people are gathered on an airport field with the pope for a prayer vigil service. After days of excruciating heat, it is now pouring rain - a driving rain, winds are gusting but no one is in any hurry to leave. The pope has addressed the question of coping with the turmoil of contemporary society. It is found in the Gospel of St. John: "As the Father has loved me, so I love you. Abide in my love!"

I will post the entire address later. Wow ... what a sight! Driving rain ... winds gusting, young people jumping up and down, clapping their hands and shouting they love the pope! This should confound the socialists.

Here is a view from earlier this afternoon as the pilgrims began to gather at Cuatro Vientos Airport field for tonight's prayer vigil and tomorrow morning's mass. Many of these pilgrims will be sleeping in the field tonight.

MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 20: Thousands of pilgrims arrive at Cuatro Vientos Airport to attend a Vigil during the World Youth Day 2011 on August 20, 2011 in Madrid, Spain.

The winds have died down, the rain has stopped and the pope is thanking the pilgrims for their joy and patience. He is now resuming his address.

I just got back from the vigil. Most of the youth are still camped out there. There might be a little more rain tonight, but I don´t think it´s going to be as bad.

It was an incredible experience. Some of the older people left when it started to rain (and it was quite a storm, very windy and cold) but most people stayed put and began to sing or shout ¨vivas¨ for the Pope, whose assistants had him covered up with umbrellas. I was soaked but I only worried about the wind, but it stopped as suddenly as it had started. And the air in Spain is very dry, so as soon as it stopped raining, we all dried off fairly quickly.

After a bit of checking to make sure the stage was ok, they resumed. When he left, the Pope told the young people he was very proud of them for their courage. This drew a lot of cheers!

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