Pope arrives in Madrid for World Youth Day celebration

Pope Benedict XVI is in Madrid, Spain for World Youth Day, a four day gathering of world youth intended to celebrate the Catholic faith and galvanize the world's youth. The visit hasn't been all celebration however, as protestors and police clash over the cost of the visit during a time of financial austerity for the county. Meanwhile, Madrid has been filled with the estimated 1.5 million visitors who are occupying every hotel, hostel, school, and even the streets in the city just to see the Holy Father. Many streets have been blocked off snarling traffic.

LOS ANGELES (Catholic Online) - The Pope arrived in Madrid around noon, local time. He was welcomed by a delegation led by Spanish King Don Carlos and several ministers, including Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Flanked by Swiss Papal Guards in their garish uniforms, the Pope later made his way through the city in his well-known "popemobile" waving to crowds who gathered along the streets to catch a glimpse of him.
 
The Pope is expected to deliver a series of nine speeches throughout his visit and he is expected to discuss several of the reforms introduced by Prime Minister Zapatero which include legalization of same-sex marriage and laws that make abortions easier to obtain. The Pope has been wary of the spread of secularism, particularly in a country that is predominately Catholic.

Previous church officials have avoided discussion of the controversial reforms, however, the Pope is expected to address them directly. Not all of the youth are happy to see the Pope. Since May 15, numerous protests of the Papal visit have occurred in Madrid and police report arresting eight people on Wednesday as the protests turned violent. At least 11 people were injured. Many of the youth have been affected by Spain's 21 percent unemployment rate and are upset that the government is hosting Papal visit at substantial cost to the people.

The protesters charge that the Spanish government is pursuing selfish interests rather than the interests of the people. Event officials have addressed the protesters concerns, by saying that the cost of the event has been covered by the registration fees paid by over 500,000 people as well as several corporate sponsorships. The Spanish government has also responded explaining that the 15 million visitors will bring sorely-needed money into a depressed economy.

The most unanswerable charge leveled by the protestors has been the use of state and public facilities which have been commandeered for the religious event. Secularists have argued the use of such facilities is illegal and inappropriate, not only because of the cost to the Spanish government, but also because it amounts to an endorsement of religion.
 
Church officials have their own message for the protestors, however. That relief from suffering and happiness cannot be found in the secular world, but rather is found within the embrace of the Church, and that is a message that the Pope and other church officials have been repeating for a very long time.

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