MADRID (CNS): An obviously aging Pope John Paul II made his fifth visit to Spain on May 3-4, sharing his conviction that a life spent in the service of God and one’s neighbours is the only type of life worth living.
In a May 3 evening meeting with more than 700,000 Spanish young people and again at a Mass on May 4 for the canonisation of five Spanish priests and religious, the Pope called on Spaniards to live their faith with courage, to sow harmony in their nation, to stand up for Christian values in the new Europe and to work for peace in the world.
The Pope, who will celebrate his 83rd birthday on May 18, told young people at the evening rally that he was ordained at the age of 26 and has been a priest for more than 56 years.
“Looking back and remembering those years of my life, I can assure you that it is worth it to dedicate
Cyourself to the cause of Christ and, for love of him, to consecrate yourself to serving humanity,” he told the young people, many of whom were not even born when he was elected pope in 1978.
The Pope told the young people to be like the saints he was about to canonise, unafraid of proclaiming the Gospel message to all.
