Pope and Bishop pray with youth

By JAMES BREIG- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

As more than 20,000 young Catholics cheered and prayed with Pope John Paul II Jan. 26 in St. Louis, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of the Albany Diocese was among the scores of bishops on hand to witness what he termed "the tangible energy, enthusiasm and passion" of the teenagers and young adults.

The encounter was part of the Pope's brief stop-over in St. Louis this week as he concluded a visit to the hemisphere that was spent mostly in Mexico (see page 3). Bishop Hubbard also celebrated Mass with the Pope on Jan. 27 before returning to Albany.

Speaking to the youths at the Kiel Center just after meeting Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pope urged them to be in training for Christian life just as the homerun champ is for the baseball season.

"It was very electrifying," Bishop Hubbard told The Evangelist from St. Louis shortly after the two-hour prayer service. "The young people even got us bishops to do the wave! We got caught up in it. Teenagers around me were wearing sweatshirts that said 'The Ultimate Rock Celebration.'"

The service included religious music, liturgical dance and teen-led prayers; it was preceded by the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

"I heard one priest tell his bishop that he had heard confessions for three hours," Bishop Hubbard said, which indicated the serious way in which the participants approached the opportunity to pray with the Pope.

"The event was a very uplifting experience," Bishop Hubbard said. "I'm sure the young people were inspired by the Holy Father's words and by the entire service."

During his talk to the youths, Pope John Paul said: "Even though you are young, the time for action is now. You are ready for what Christ wants of you now. He wants you -- all of you -- to be light to the world, as only young people can be."

The Pope urged the youths not to be misled from the truth and to seek meaning and direction for their lives from Jesus: "Christ is calling you; the Church needs you; the Pope believes in you, and he expects great things of you."

The Pope lived up to his reputation of having a good rapport with youth but of also speaking frankly to them. He frequently addressed the crowd as his "young friends" and smiled at their interrupting cheers of "we love you." He took a swing with a hockey stick he was given and then swung his own cane like a hockey stick before leaving the stage.

But the Holy Father also spoke on a somber note: "There is something wrong when so many young people are overcome by hopelessness to the point of taking their own lives," he said.

"God's gift of life is being rejected. Death is chosen over life, and this brings with it the darkness and despair."

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