By Chris Spoons
Staff writer

Toronto — If Woodstock was supposed to be a love-in, World Youth Day in Toronto, which some dubbed “Pope-stock,” truly fit the definition. “John Paul loves you!” is one message nearly 1,400 Chicago-area teens and young adults received July 23-28.

The Holy Father received the message that Chicagoans love him, too, during the epic July 23-28 event. One parish group got to the site of the papal welcoming ceremony early to hang their sign: “John Paul II, Chicago Loves You!” Cardinal George later told Chicago pilgrims that the Holy Father saw the sign and liked it very much.

During the welcoming ceremony, the pope challenged the pilgrims to be people of the Beatitudes. “Blessed are you if, like Jesus, you are poor in spirit, good and merciful; if you really seek what is just and right; if you are pure of heart, peacemakers, lovers of the poor and their servants,” he said. “Blessed are you!”

He also encouraged them to answer the Lord’s call by placing their lives at his service. “Young people listening to me, answer the Lord with strong and generous hearts!”, the Holy Father said. “He is counting on you. Never forget: Christ needs you to carry out his plan of salvation! Answer his call by placing your lives at his service in your brothers and sisters! Trust Christ, because he trusts you.”

The young people responded to the message. “The Holy Father has so much faith and belief in everyone that it makes you want to do better,” said Katie Condon from St. Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette. “He just has a presence about him. I have such a feeling of being loved and united with others that I want to pass that on when I go home. It’s the most amazing feeling you’ll ever have.”

Kristen Houle, from St. Matthew Parish in Schaumburg, was also encouraged by the pope’s words. “It was overwhelming to see and hear him,” she said. “It’s amazing that the pope wants to reach out and help the young people.”

World Youth Day pilgrims spent three mornings in catechetical sessions led by more than 500 bishops, archbishops and cardinals. Cardinal George taught several.

English-speaking pilgrims—many wearing festive hats and pins, and one draped in a Canadian flag—came to hear Cardinal George’s talk which was taken from the youth gathering’s theme: “You are the salt of the earth. ... You are the light of the world.”

The cardinal explained that, in Jesus’ time, salt was used for preservation of meat and other perishable goods. Salt was a precious commodity because goods could not be preserved without it.

“Salt is valuable … because it flavors what it is next to,” Cardinal George said. “When we hear the Lord tell us, ‘You are the salt of the earth,’ that means you change the world, you flavor the world,” he said.

Cardinal George reminded the pilgrims that changing the world and being holy are not always popular things to do.

“People ask, ‘What would Jesus do?’” he said. “Well, he was crucified for what he did.”

That’s why it takes courage to live out faith, the cardinal said.

“Life is meant to make you heroes. It takes a certain kind of heroism and courage to live up to your baptism,” he said.

World Youth Day came to a close with the papal Mass July 28. The pope then journeyed on to Guatemala and Mexico for canonization ceremonies (See story, Page 14).

“Listen to the voice of Jesus in the depths of your hearts!” the Holy Father told the soggy pilgrims, who had spent the night outside in the rain at an old military base.“His words tell you who you are as Christians. They tell you what you must do to remain in his love. We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his son.”

For some, World Youth Day didn’t end with the closing Mass. Nearly 200 Polish pilgrims came back through Chicago on their way home and stayed with parishioners from St. Gertrude Parish in Franklin Park. “I wanted to show them our hospitality,” said Jenny Mina, St. Gertrude parishioner. “I wanted to do everything in my power to make them feel welcome.”

Many pilgrims said World Youth Day has changed them in some way. Beth Ragona, a chaperone from St. Francis of Assisi, Orland Park, said she has a new outlook on the future. “I never thought I’d see such a rejuvenation in the church,” she said. “Any negative words I’ve had about the youth have been dissipated. I feel like there’s so much hope for our future.”

“Personally, World Youth Day was probably the best experience I’ve ever had,” said Paul Wojcik, who hailed from St. Elizabeth Seton, Orland Hills. “The feeling I had is just indescribable. It was especially good to see that there are so many young Catholics in the world. We are the salt of the earth. We have the chance to season the world. We are the future.”

You are the salt of the earth. How are you going to flavor the world?