Benedict XVI thanked 14,000 volunteers for their work

Credits: EFE Author: Kiko Huesca

Madrid, August 21st 2011.- The Holy Father thanked  14,000 volunteers from all over the world for their work and dedication in this World Youth Day in an act of  farewell at IFEMA. Before leaving for Rome he said to them: “With your service, you have shown the face of kindness, friendliness and commitment to others.”

“I wanted to stop and thank you with all my heart for your invaluable service.  It is a duty of justice and a necessity of the heart”, said the Pontiff to these thousands of volunteers who represent the more than 30,000 that have contributed to WYD.  “Thanks to your collaboration, the young pilgrims have found a friendly welcome and help in everything they needed”, He added.

His Holiness also wanted to highlight the affection shown to Him with these words: “Not only have you been attentive to the pilgrims, but also to the Pope. At all the acts I took part in, you were also present”. “I cannot forget the hard work in the preparation of these days. Such sacrifice, such affection. With your work and prayer, you have all woven this wonderful multicolor tapestry of WYD. Thank you for this kind gesture of love”, he pointed out.

The Holy Father also recalled the volunteers who, because of the work they had to do, could not be present at the events: Many of you had to make the sacrifice of not being able to take part directly in these events. However, this sacrifice is a beautiful and evangelical way of participating in WYD: the commitment to others that Jesus talks about”. The Pope also comforted the young people saying: “I am sure that this experience as volunteers has enriched your Christian lives, which is fundamentally a service of love. The Lord will transform your accumulated tiredness, the worries, the oppression of many moments into fruits of Christian virtue: patience, meekness, the joy of giving to others, the desire to fulfil the will of God.

To love is to serve and service increases love. I think this is one of the most beautiful fruits of your collaboration in World Youth day.”

Credits: EFE Author: Chema Moya

A day which will give fruit

As World Youth day approached its end, Benedict XVI urged the volunteers to keep “this joyful experience” in their hearts and to grow each day in their commitment to God and men- the Pontiff also mentioned the fruits that they will reap from this meeting: “It is possible that timidly or powerfully a very simple question has been awoken in you: What does God want of me? Let yourselves be guided by the Lord and offer yourselves as volunteers at His service. Your lives will reach undreamed-of fulfilness”. 

After these words, the Holy Father said Goodbye to the young volunteers saying:  “Maybe some among you are thinking: the Pope came to thank us and he goes away asking for something. Yes, that’s it. This is the Pope, St Peter’s successor’s mission”. After this He added just one last request: “that you answer with love He who gave His life for you”. And he gave them His blessing.

Thank you from Cardinal Rouco

Cardinal Rouco Varela accompanied Benedict XVI at this meeting and had words of gratitude for the Holy father, for His visit and for the work of the volunteers in this World Youth Day: “the volunteers have been a key factor in the preparation and carrying out of this great ecclesial celebration that His Holiness entrusted to Madrid and the Church in Spain. The usual and conventional meaning of the word  ‘volunteers’ is obviously insufficient to be able to understand and express the work, sacrifice, detachment and style transmitted by the WYD 2011 volunteers, their behaviour and the service they gave. The human warmth with which they carried out their service is exceptional. They were moved by love: a love offered to the Lord, to the Church and to the Pope. They wanted to be true ‘apostles’ to their young companions, and they have achieved it”.

The Cardinal also thanked the Pope on behalf of the volunteers for stopping to speak to them on His way home to Rome and he added: “Moved by the truly paternal exquisite gentleness that the Holy Father shows them by wanting to say Goodbye to them personally, the volunteers thank Him with all their heart”.

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