Statements by Next Host of World Youth Day
ROME, AUGUST 22 (ZENIT.org-Avvenire).- At the end of World Youth Day, John Paul II confirmed that the next international World Youth Day will be held in Toronto, July 22-26, 2002. The Archbishop of Toronto, Aloysius Matthew Ambrozic spoke with "Avvenire" about the upcoming event.
Archbishop Ambrozic arrived in Toronto from Slovenia in 1948. He was born in 1930 in Gabrje, near Lubiana. Ordained a priest in 1955, he was named Archbishop of Toronto in 1990 and created Cardinal in 1998.
--Cardinal Ambrozic, how did Toronto become a candidate for the next World Youth Day?
--Cardinal Ambrozic: I went to the Denver and Manila Days. I thought it would be lovely to be able to hold World Youth Day here in Toronto. However, it was only an idea. Then, some of my priests returned from Paris with enthusiasm, and said to me, 'We've got to have a World Youth Day.' So I was encouraged to propose what was just a simple idea. Toronto 2002. This is a beautiful city in every sense, rich in humanity,
if you ignore the plague of abortion. It has a strong Protestant character.
-- What, exactly, is this character?
-- Cardinal Ambrozic: Protestants in Toronto are of English, Scotch, and
Irish extraction. They are very serious and disciplined. Their virtue is
"fairness," understood as honesty, justice, impartiality, and loyalty. I
have no trouble admitting I very much appreciate this tradition.
-- And the Catholics?
-- Cardinal Ambrozic: In the past, they experienced difficulties. However, the Protestants never reneged on their decision to be just and democratic. When I arrived here with my family in 1948, we Catholics were barely 10%. Then came the time of the immigration of Italians, Portuguese, Latin Americans, and Filipinos. Today, in the latest wave of
immigrants - Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese - there have been many conversions.
-- Many conversions?
-- Cardinal Ambrozic: Yes, many, and not even we can explain the reason very well. A malicious reader might think that this is the result of the
Catholic Church's charitable activities. However, it is not so because in this sector Anglicans are more active than we are. The fact remains that in one of my parishes inhabited primarily by Chinese, there were 250 adult baptisms in one year.
--After World War II, Catholics were a very small minority. What are they today?
-- Cardinal Ambrozic: Today we are close to 1.5 million, 35% of the population. According to surveys, people described by sociologists as "practicing," that is, those who go to Mass at least twice a month, are
between 12-13% of the baptized. This fraction might seem small, but for the past few years this percentage has been growing. In this case also,
none of the explanations we give ourselves ends up convincing us.
-- Let's talk about the next World Youth Day. What do you think of this generation of youths?
-- Cardinal Ambrozic: Before beginning my catechises in Denver in 1993, I asked myself: "How can I cover the fatal distance that exists between them and me?" However, I did not have to make any special effort. They themselves closed the gap between us, thus demonstrating the enormous capacity of a common faith in Jesus Christ to unite persons. The Toronto
priests who are responsible for youths say it is a mistake to consider them as a kind of separate class. Of course they have their own tastes, problems, and sensitivities. However, they are part of the parish community where there are so many adults. When they are all together in the community, they are called to collaborate. This is also my opinion.
-- Undoubtedly the next World Youth Day will have a strong ecumenical accent.
-- Cardinal Ambrozic: Today there are no problems with the Anglicans. Bishop Finley and I are very good friends, I often dine together with him and his wife, and we invite one another to preach in our respective Cathedrals. World Youth Day is clearly a Catholic event, which will be characterized by the Pope's presence. Toronto Anglicans consider him a great spiritual guide, who announces Christian truth. Therefore, don't be surprised if Anglican youths are present.
-- What will be the significance of World Youth Day for Toronto?
-- Cardinal Ambrozic: The city is beautiful and modern. It works well. There is work for everyone. However, something is missing... World Youth Day will be a challenge, especially for us Catholics. We must behave with greater courage, we still do not perceive a sufficient sense
of responsibility, and we do not give the contribution we should to the
human and civil growth of the city. ZE00082203 --------------------------------------------------------
CARDINAL STAFFORD EVALUATES WORLD YOUTH DAY "These Youth Have Surprised Us"
ROME, AUGUST 22 (ZENIT.org-Avvenire).- The Cardinal's astonishment was yet to be fully assimilated: "Two million people? We really didn't expect it," but his thoughts were already running ahead to Toronto: "The
road has already started," the president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Cardinal James F. Stafford, said.
American Cardinal Stafford was the person ultimately responsible for the
organization of World Youth Day, a task for which he prepared as Archbishop of Denver during the 1993 World Youth Day. He was eager to give his impressions of the event, and began with the confessions in the Circus Maximus, "an important fact on which the entire Church must reflect."
The Cardinal thanked the Church in Italy and Rome for the labor undertaken to insure the success of World Youth Day: "It wasn't an easy challenge."
-- World Youth Day has just ended. What can you tell us about it?
-- Cardinal Stafford: I think the first thing that should be stressed is
that this was a great tribute to the Pope, who has a really great charisma, as the youths' welcome reflected. What was most impressive were the confessions in the Circus Maximus, because this sacrament is a second baptism, and this rediscovery means a recovery of baptismal innocence: it is very important for the Church, for the whole Church, beginning with the bishopos, to see that these youths ask to receive the
Sacrament of Reconciliation.
-- What were the youths like who came to Rome?
-- Cardinal Stafford: It is the generation of Vatican Council II, but as
was made very clear during the International Forum, their questions are very different from those of youths of the 60s and 70s. I think that today their attention is focused especially on the meaning of Christ's cross, that pilgrim cross the Pope entrusted to them 16 years ago. What does it mean? Why have a pilgrimage? Why did the Pope entrust it to us in '84? These were the questions, and I think this is an important fact,
which must be stressed.
-- Two million arrived to look for the answers. Did you expect it?
-- Cardinal Stafford: Frankly, no. It was a great surprise for me and, I
think, for everyone. Our initial expectations hovered around 500,000 people. In time they increased, but we certainly did not expect that they could reach two million. I think that in this respect we must acknowledge and be grateful for the great work of the Italian Church and
the Church of Rome. Yesterday afternoon I watched a television service on the meeting with the Pope in Tor Vergata, and was able to appreciate again something really beautiful, very well organized, from the logistics to all the rest. Obviously, this gratitude must extend to the whole of Italy, especially the city of Rome, because it wasn't an easy challenge, with two million people arriving at the same time, which had never happened before. Yes, it was very difficult.
-- In brief, did it all turn out well?
-- Cardinal Stafford: Yes, very well. We must give great merit for this Day to Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Vicar of Rome, and his collaborators and to the Italian and Roman governments.
-- How is the Toronto event being prepared?
Cardinal Stafford: Last Sunday, Canada's ambassador to the Vatican had a
reception, which was attended by Canadian bishops, members of Ontario's and Toronto's government, and others. Obviously, there was much talk about the next World Youth Day, and I think all are very much in favor of this event. I think it will be a very important event not just for the Church but for the whole of Canada, a land in which three great cultures meet: English, French, and native.
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22. august 2000