Pope shows new, more spontaneous face on Spain visit

By Sinikka Tarvainen Aug 21, 2011, 11:57 GMT

Madrid - Until now, many Spanish Catholics had seen Pope Benedict XVI as a rather austere and distant figure.

Many said they still felt closer to Benedict's predecessor, the late John Paul II, whose warmth and charisma the intellectual German pontiff did not seem to share.

But Benedict won the hearts of Spaniards this week in Madrid, where he not only drew record crowds of people, but also showed them a more spontaneous and affable side.

'I hope you slept well last night,' the pope told a crowd of about 1.5 million at Sunday's mass following unexpected events at a prayer vigil the previous night.

Nearly two million people - according to organizers - had defied the scorching heat for hours on Saturday to see the 84-year-old pontiff, who was visiting Spain for the World Youth Day celebrations.

Pilgrims from all over the world had danced, sung, prayed, said they were the 'pope's youths' and pledged to 'do anything for Jesus.'

While the fervour could be attributed partly to the church's massive organization and its media skills, Benedict also made a personal contribution to it when a rainstorm suddenly broke out during the prayer vigil at Madrid's Cuatro Vientos airport.

The solemn figure of the pontiff suddenly appeared more human, as he clutched his papers and his white hair blew in the wind.

He did not lose his composure, but kept smiling and delighted his audience with a few spontaneous comments.

'Your strength is bigger than the rain. The Lord sends you blessings with the rain,' the pope said.

'We have lived an adventure together,' he quipped later on, after the religious ceremonies were over.

It was as if Benedict were responding to the rapturous welcome he had received in Madrid, where hundreds of thousands of people from more than 190 countries flocked to see him.

The pope was 'very satisfied' and 'impressed,' Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

Benedict previously visited Spain twice after becoming pontiff in 2005, but had not drawn as many people. Saturday's prayer vigil was described by media reports as the biggest Catholic gathering ever in Spain.

'Please don't go yet, please don't go,' a group of pilgrims sang as the pope was leaving the Cuatro Vientos airport after Sunday's mass.

The pope's popularity soared despite his stern messages to today's young people, which indicated that the church would resist any winds of change.

In his speeches and homilies, Benedict stressed the need for priests to remain celibate, the indissolubility of marriage, and criticized abortion and euthanasia.

He exhorted young people to go to church. Yet about 60 per cent of Spanish young people never or hardly ever do so, polls show.

Analysts explained enthusiasm for the pope partly with the fact that many of the Madrid pilgrims came from more religious continents than Europe, such as Latin America or Africa.

And many Spanish youths joined in simply because it was fun, while going to church was 'boring,' 18-year-old Sonia said.

'I had never seen so many people together, with such devotion,' said one volunteer participating in organizing the papal visit.

'There are nights when it is impossible to sleep, because you do not want to miss any of the events that are constantly taking place,' said one pilgrim who spent the night at the Cuatro Vientos airport to see the pope.