Pope Benedict XVI attends a prayer vigil in Hyde Park, central London September 18, 2010.
Posted on 09/19/2010 4:23:39 PM PDT by NYer
The Pontiff was treated to whistles and chanting from up to 2,500 youngsters from dioceses in England, Wales and Scotland gathered on the piazza outside Westminster Cathedral.
The Pope was greeted by Mr Uche, 21, a pharmacy student at Nottingham University, whose enthusiastic welcome brought further cheering from the crowd.
Mr Uche, who worships at St Francis church in Stratford and was chosen by the Diocese of Brentwood to greet the Pope, told him: ''For many of us before today you were a face on television or a picture in a church.
''But today we behold you face to face, and on behalf of the Catholic youth of this great nation I would like to express my profound and heartfelt gratitude for your visit.''
The Pope was also cheered as he replied: ''Thank you for your warm welcome.''
Mr Uche, who is likely to become a poster boy for young Catholics, later said the Pope spoke to him again as they posed for pictures afterwards. He said the Pope's apology to abuse victims "was very heartfelt and very personal".
He said: "He made us all understand that we all are sorry. The church is our family so if someone does something wrong we all are obliged in some way to be sorry and show compassion for the victims."
There was a sea of cameras and mobile phones directed towards the Pontiff, with some people climbing lampposts or sitting on shoulders to get a better view.
Among the crowd there was a young worshipper sporting a huge Mohican hairstyle.
Flags were waved and one banner read: ''We love our German shepherd.''
He said: ''I ask each of you, first and foremost, to look into your own heart.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
What a great little story. I bet the youth were so inspired. Hard to say how many future priests and consecrated religious were in that crowd. We’ll know in five years when there is an explosion in the seminaries and convents of England!
Simply wonderful.
Looks like there is over a dozen...
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