Pope Benedict XVI Comes Home

He's on the way to visit the pilgrims of WYD 2005. My Way News has the story:

Benedict XVI arrived Thursday in his native Germany to cheers from youthful pilgrims on his first foreign trip as pope, a journey that will emphasize outreach to Jews and Muslims and evangelizing a Europe that has drifted from its Christian heritage.

Greeted by shouts of "Benedict, Benedict" from young people attending World Youth Day in Cologne, Benedict looked ahead to his visit to the city's synagogue, rebuilt after being destroyed by the Nazis, and to a meeting with Muslim leaders.

"Visiting a synagogue is close to my heart, and also the greeting of members of the Islamic community," he said, gusts of wind ruffling his white garments and silver hair.

"These are meetings to proceed more intensively on the way of dialogue in the common effort to build a just and brotherly future," he said. "We all know how very important it is to seek this path."

Benedict landed to a subdued arrival, compared to some of the greetings received by his charismatic predecessor, John Paul II. He skipped John Paul's custom of kissing the ground, and only a few hundred enthusiastic admirers were brought to the airport.

Thousands more, however, cheered as they watched on a large television screen in front of Cologne's famed cathedral, erupting in shouts as his plane landed. More than 400,000 pilgrims registered ahead of time, organizers said, and up to 1 million people are expected for an open-air Mass by Benedict on Sunday.

Anyone that thinks Pope John Paul the Great earned the accolades of the young through a cult-of-personality has some 'splainin to do! What these people don't understand is why the young find the Pope exciting: they love Christ, and they believe that the Pope is Christ's Vicar. Why shouldn't they be excited?

Pope Benedict XVI carries the same invitation to them that JPG did--the invitation to heroism. He calls them to even greater fidelity to Christ. He calls them to join him in carrying out the Great Commision. He inspires them to be the evangelists he knows they can be. While his style may differ from his predecessor, the Holy Father will still capture the affection of the young. Orthodoxy is that exciting to the Faithful. Just like Love.