(Father B.F. Heffernan, Peterborough, Ontario is covering World Youth Day for Canada Free Press.)
. Heffernan
Friday, august 19, 2005
Germany--The august 18th morning wind blew the wind-cone sideways, at the Cologne-Bonne airport. There, six flags followed suit. Thousands of joyful young hearts fluttered with excitement, racing ahead of the drum beat of the military band, not at the sight of marching soldiers but because there appeared in the southern sky a large white alitalia aeroplane.
Its nosecone grew larger as the plane descended gracefully till both wheels touched the tarmac. Flying the German flag and the Papal flag, majestically the huge airplane approached and stopped at the portable stairs. at the foot on wine carpet stood church leaders, Cardinals and the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Waiting further back were other officials and behind the railing was the applauding, singing waving youth from many nations.
all were looking up expectantly, watching for the appearance of the native son of Germany, now grown a man, returning to his native homeland as the new Pope Benedict XVI.
a sign of just how important this event is to the world is the enormous presence of the world Press — TV, radio and newspapers. The Press Center is as large as the huge Toronto airport International Centre.
It boasts 7500 journalists, 700 computers, phones and internet hook-ups which journalists from all over the world can use 24 hours a day. all the major TV networks of Europe, the United States and the main parts of the world have crews and broadcasting facilities here.
Having the Pope chosen from any country is a great honour, but how much more to have your Pope return to visit his and your homeland.
Of the hundreds of journalists typing in the Press Centre one soft spoken young man in his early 30s took time to explain to me why having this happen in Germany is far more important than having this happen in any other country. He explained "During the last half century the young people of Germany have born a terrible burden. We have been stigmatized as having caused the world’s worst tragedy and it has weighed heavily upon us. But now Germany has raised itself. It has raised a Pope! We can once again hold our heads high. Now The Holy Father is returning to the Father Land and Germany rejoices. I am a protestant, but like all Germans I am happy and jubilant."
Back in 1945 the world would have thought this phenomena to be impossible just as today the election of a Moslem Pope in the year 2070 would seem impossible. Maybe not! But with God, all things are possible.
The white door of the airplane swings open revealing the Man in White. Out onto the platform, the world stage is the Cherubic faced Hope of Germany, the Hope of Youth, the Hope of all the World. Smiling and waving he descends the airplane stairs returning to his homeland, to meet the head of Germany, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, the German Cardinals, Bishops, German Youth and the Youth of the world.
They will spend the next few days together, praying, singing, boating, waving, teaching, learning and offering sacrifice to God, that the Holy Spirit like the morning airplane will descend among them and rejuvenate all.
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