The "fiesta" of faith is about to begin. Half a million youngsters from 193 countries (with an average age of 22) have registered, but the number of pilgrims is expected to triple by the end of the WYD celebrations, reported the Vaticaninsider. This evening, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid and President of the Spanish bishops, will open the largest gathering in the Plaza de Cibeles. World Youth Day starts tonight at 20:00, and with the arrival of Pope just two days away, Madrid is running low on beds. When Benedict XVI makes his symbolic entry through the Gate of Alcala on Thursday, the 30 thousand volunteers will have to meet the logistical difficulties of a massive mobilization. About 10 thousand agents will provide security between police, Civil Guard and the army.

The Eucharistic Celebration will be dedicated to Pope John Paul II (inventor of the World Youth Day) and will be celebrated, for the first time, with the ritual of the new Blessed One, already included in the missal of the dioceses of Poland and that of the dioceses of Rome, and authorized by Benedict XVI for the occasion. The Madrid WYD, is the 26th WYD event. This year, the great gathering of young Catholics, is entitled "Rooted and grounded in Christ, in the faith", a motto taken from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians contained in the New Testament. This isPope Benedict XVI’s third visit to "secularist" Zapatero’s Spain, following the International Meeting of Families in Valencia in 2006 and his visit to Santiago and Barcelona last spring. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the economic crisis, about 150 atheist and left-wing associations, such as the one named "Secular Europe", have organised a day of protest in Madrid tomorrow, with slogans such as "The Pope's visit, not with my taxes" ("No con mis Impuestos").

The "indignados" are also expected to participate. The Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, contends that "everyone can freely express his opinions" and that the Vatican "is not particularly worried." For his part, Archbishop of Madrid has authorized priests who will be taking confessions to absolve youngsters at the World Youth Day, by discarding the punishment of automatic excommunication for those who may have committed the sin of abortion, a right which according to canon law, is usually reserved for bishops only. This measure, effective from today until 22 August  was adopted so that "all the faithful participating in World Youth Day are more likely to reach the fruits of divine grace that opens the doors to a new life." Young people who confess this sin will receive absolution only if they are sincerely repentant and if they will make a "proper penance."

Canon 1398 states that "he who procures an abortion, giving the effect, incurs a latae sententiae excommunication" that can be removed by the Pope, bishops and some authorized priests, as in this case. There are 200 portable confessionals installed for World Youth Day in the gardens of Buen Retiro, dubbed "Day of Pardon", where 2000 priests will confess in seven languages. One of the confessors, who will enable young people to be reconciled with God, will be Benedict XVI himself who will be taking confession on Saturday from 9 am.