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Pope Benedict celebrates World Youth Day closing Mass | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Pope Benedict XVI has celebrated the closing Mass of the World Youth Day festival in Spain in front of thousands of young Catholics. | |
He urged pilgrims to "share the joy of their faith" and announced that the next event would be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. | |
On Saturday, the Pope had delivered a homily to a million-strong crowd. | |
But his speech there was cut short by a violent thunderstorm which blew off his skullcap. | |
Addressing the crowds on Sunday, he urged them all too take what they had learned there back to their own communities. | |
"Do not keep Christ to yourselves. Share with others the joy of your faith," he said. | |
There were huge cheers as he named Rio as the next host. | |
"I am very happy because our youth in Brazil will be able to experience what I am experiencing here and to see the Holy Father," said Brazilian pilgrim Maria da Gracia. | |
Cost protests | |
World Youth Day has drawn hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Madrid from all over the world. | |
Many had camped at the Cuatro Vientos air base overnight, having waiting for hours in the open air the previous day for the prayer vigil. | |
Madrid is in the middle of a heatwave and even though fire engines doused the crowds with water, hundreds of fainting pilgrims were treated by medics. | Madrid is in the middle of a heatwave and even though fire engines doused the crowds with water, hundreds of fainting pilgrims were treated by medics. |
But the Pope's arrival at the site Saturday coincided with a massive downpour and forced him to stop in the middle of a welcome address. | |
Sheltering under an umbrella, the 84-year-old commended the crowd for having faith "stronger than the rain". | Sheltering under an umbrella, the 84-year-old commended the crowd for having faith "stronger than the rain". |
The storm also destroyed some of the tents in which pilgrims were to have taken Holy Communion, meaning some had to go without on Sunday. | |
There have been several protests against the cost of the Pope's four-day visit, which comes at a time of high unemployment and spending cuts. | There have been several protests against the cost of the Pope's four-day visit, which comes at a time of high unemployment and spending cuts. |
The event's organisers say most costs will be met by the pilgrims themselves. | The event's organisers say most costs will be met by the pilgrims themselves. |
Protests have also been staged by gay men and lesbians against his visit and the Catholic Church's opposition to same-sex marriages. | Protests have also been staged by gay men and lesbians against his visit and the Catholic Church's opposition to same-sex marriages. |
The pontiff's four-day visit began on Thursday and his engagements have included celebrating Mass with thousands of future priests, meeting young nuns and taking part in a Way of the Cross procession. | The pontiff's four-day visit began on Thursday and his engagements have included celebrating Mass with thousands of future priests, meeting young nuns and taking part in a Way of the Cross procession. |
He has also met King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia, and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero. | He has also met King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia, and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero. |
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