In the midst of rainstorm at the Madrid prayer vigil, 27-year-old recalls, 'We were not afraid at all because we could see that the first one who was serene was the Holy Father. He transmitted a lot of serenity, a lot of calmness.'

As thunder, lightning and wind whipped through the World Youth Day prayer vigil this past August, Pope Benedict XVI was advised to leave the event three times. But he insisted that if the young people stayed, then he would too. The revelation comes from a young Honduran woman was who stood next to the Pope throughout the event.

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Pope Benedict XVI has sent a 'thank you' note to the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela, assuring his gratitude to the people of Spain for his successful trip to their country for World Youth Day 2011. Visit this article to read more.

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The Spanish capital city of Madrid came away with over $200 million in profits after World Youth Day 2011 held this past August, officials said. The Community of Madrid estimated that WYD produced an increase of $199 million in the region’s Gross Interior Product. The contribution made by WYD was also recognized by the Madrid Consistory, which awarded the event with the Tourism Prize of the City of Madrid for promoting the city internationally. It also classified WYD as a National Patrimony.

Here are some of the key quotes by Pope Benedict XVI during World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid. Read them, reflect on them, and share them with your friends!

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It was one of the most remarkable global manifestations of the Catholic faith in recent memory. But since pilgrims have started returning home from World Youth Day, some are talking about the disorganization they experienced and how the event could be improved. For example, around 100,000 of the 1.5 million pilgrims we refused entry into the venue for the Vigil and Final Mass, despite having the correct passes.

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Pilgrims who attended World Youth Day XXVI in Madrid are invited to participate in a research project which explores how the events of World Youth Day (WYD) and its associated pilgrimages might impact upon a pilgrim’s perception of spirituality, religious practice, community and self. The research is being conducted as part of the PhD of Mr. Anthony Cleary.

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Among the first fruits of World Youth Day is a human life saved from abortion. The International Center for the Defense of Human Life (CIDEVIDA) told ZENIT about the baby who was saved Aug. 19.

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Some 3,000 World Youth Day participants in Madrid last week attended the celebrations with Magis, a Jesuit pastoral program that prepares and accompanies young people in the WYD experience. The youth began the Magis itinerary on Aug. 5 in Loyola, the birthplace of the founder of the Jesuits, and concluded with the papal events in Madrid. Visit this article to read more.

The highpoint of World Youth Day was a moment that has been little-discussed, according to the leader of the Spanish episcopal conference's youth ministry department. For Bishop José Ignacio Munilla Aguirre of San Sebastian, the climax of World Youth Day occurred Saturday night, when Benedict XVI consecrated the youth of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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