WYD Madrid - Hola Madrid!

Oh God, who are rich in mercy and who willed that Blessed John Paul II
should preside as Pope over your universal Church, grant, we pray, that
instructed by his teaching, we may open our hearts to the saving grace
of Christ, the sole Redeemer of mankind. Who lives and reigns.

So we've made it as far as Madrid, found our hotel, spent an hour or two getting our bearings as we wandered around the city a little and have now celebrated in the official opening mass of World Youth Day. The mass took place in the Plaza de Cibeles and was presided over by the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela and concelebrated by bishops and priests from across the world.

Earlier today we all received our pilgrim backpacks and although we knew some of the things we'd be getting inside of them it was still nice to take a look at all of the little surprises too! Our Pilgrim Booklet will guide us through each of the masses and celebrations we take part in and our guide and foot vouchers are of course other essential items but we also each received a copy of YOUCAT, WYD hat, rosary beads, fan and a crucifix with JMJ 2011 inscribed on the back.