"The Pope Is More Than a Master"
ROME, AUGUST 17 (ZENIT.org-FIDES).- Mainland China was not on the list of Asian nations greeted by John Paul II at the opening of the Youth Jubilee. The Patriotic Association decided not to run the risk of sending Chinese delegates from the People's Republic to embrace the Pope. However, 500 guests from Taiwan were included in the wish for peace, along with 400 friends from Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore, whose delegations were mentioned individually. The World Youth Day experience is sure to reach the mainland through them.
Archbishop Ti-kang of Taipei, personally accompanied the youths of his parish, mainly university students, "to help them join in the activities of the universal Church"; and in preparation for mission and prayer for China. The pilgrimage to Rome was preceded by months of study about the places to be visited. Before arriving in Rome, one group went to Spain to visit the birthplaces of St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Teresa of Avila; and to France to visit Lourdes and Taizé. University student Cai Cifen from Taipei said, "Seeing the birthplaces of these saints moved me to ask God what he wants of me, and it also opened our horizons to embrace the universality of the Church."
Once in Rome, they were amazed to see the friendship of so many different races and language groups, "Singing the same hymn with other young people and listening to different languages is very important," another student, Cai Zhengfeng, said.
What makes them most happy is to see the Pope, "a person who will become a saint." "He is a person we feel near to us, because he loves young people. Everything he does, including forgiving his would-be assassin, shows that he responds to God's call," Cai Cifen said.
In a number of surveys carried out before World Youth Day, the Pope was listed among the most loved and respected figure, after mother, father, and teacher. "The figure of a master is too strict for us; the Pope is more like a father, a loving father," Cai Zhengfeng said.
One of the 7 non-Christians in the Taiwanese delegation confided that the Pope had also touched her heart. "I am not baptized yet, but I did not want to miss this opportunity. When I go to Mass and cannot receive Communion, I stay at the back of the church, rather sad. But I did not want to hurry baptism for the occasion. I want to ponder my choice, and not act fired by emotion. I want to test my faith. However, even now, being there in St. Peter's singing the World Youth Day hymn, I felt at home."
Zenit - The World Seen From Rome