Galway Advertiser 1979/1979_10_04/GA_04101979_E1_001.pdf 

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Advertiser

FESTIVAL OF JOY ON MEMORABLE DAY

POPE TELLS YOUNG IRELAND'I LOYE YOU!'
"YOUNG P E O P L E OF IRELAND, I LOVE Y O U ! " s a i d the P o p e -- a n d h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f y o u n g p e o p l e o p e n e d their a r m s . It w a s the h i g h l i g h t o f the Y o u t h M a s s , the spark t h a t p r o d u c e d a l m o s t 15 m i n u t e s of continuous singing, clapping and c h e e r i n g . If B i s h o p C a s e y h o p e d for an incident that would long be treasured in the h e a r t s o f t h o s e w h o w i t n e s s e d last S u n d a y at B a l l y b r i t t h e n this w a s it. It w a s a s p o n t a n e o u s flow o f e x p r e s s i o n b e t w e e n y o u n g p e o p l e a n d t h e P o p e that w a s c h a r g e d with deep-felt emotion. T h e c r o w d c h a n t e d " W e w a n t P a u l ; " they s a n g He's got the whole world in his hands, flags a n d b a n n e r s w a v e d a n d s w a y e d . A s the c e l e b r a t i o n s q u i e t e n e d at o n e s e c t i o n o f this vast c r o w d o f 285,000 p e o p l e , a s o n g o r c h a n t w o u l d roll b a c k f r o m a n o t h e r to b e t a k e n u p a g a i n by e v e r y o n e .
Pope John Paul stood on the highest level of the Podium, smiling and moving his head in his characteristic manner: thoughtfully and slowly. Many adults were openly weeping. During one slight pause the Pope said "very nice, very nice. It was necessary to have the sun shine for us a little . . . It was necessary". And the cheering started again. At one point the choir, under the direction of Maire Ni Dhuibhir, sang out the Polish greeting S t o - L a t ; and the Pope's own deep resonant voice could be heard singing a song of his own. You could see that Fr. Pat Ahem, one of the directors of the liturgy, was apprehensive that the occasion was going to develop into a Pop Concert. But no. The Young People were beautifully in harmony with the Holy Father. They were r e t u r n i n g his expression of love for them. It was that rare moment when spirits actually soared. DAY OF THE P O P E Sunday will always be remembered as the Day of the Pope. From Saturday m i d n i g h t the 100,000 Young People from every parish in Ireland began to arrive from trains and coaches and to make their way to Ballybrit. One resident on the Monivea Road said there was a constant stream of people moving through the night. "A continuous babble of voices, sometimes a friend's :.ame was >bouted out". By 6 a. m. crowds began to leave the City. It was an easy walk and everyone was moving at a good pnce. Approaching Ballybrit the floodlights showed up the massive crowds already in position. In fact those lights--each surrounded by a haze of brightness--gave the entire area a rather ghostly atmosphere prom pting a companion to r e m a r k " i t was like approaching the gates of heaven". An all night stall holder called out: "last chance for minerals and a sandwich l a d s " , which made the c o m p a n i o n ' s imagination all the more real! About 7.15 the darkness lifted to a gray overcast sky. T h e r e was constant movement everywhere. Watching from the middle of the Youth Section people were wrapped in sleeping bags, passing food around from knapsacks and carriers. Some people appeared to be asleep but practically everyone looked none the worse for the long wait, and clearly excitement was beginning to rise. A misty rain began to fall, and Bishop Casey walked purposefully along with a blackthorn stick. " I t ' s Bishop Casey's d a y " remarked someone. CLOSE ENCOUNTER F r . M i c h a e l Cleary opened the proceedings by greeting everyone at 8.45 a.m. He told some good jokes, got everyone to their feet and began welcoming the townlands throughout Ireland encouraging representatives to shout a reply. Bishop Casey welcomed everyone, especially the Young People from the North--who almost knocked the vast grand stands as they bellowed back their replies. The two City St. Patrick's bands began to play and everyone began to sing The Rivers of Babylon, sway to the music, and dart curious eyes at the ambulances that never ceased to drive up and down all day. The crowd, still growing as people arrived in a continuous stream, were in excellent spirits. Everyone was friendly. Food was shared, n e w friendships were made and the mounting anticipation created, what one young man described as "an atmosphere you could almost see". A nearby t r a n s i s t o r announced the Pope's visit to Clonmacnoise; and when he left ihat ancient City his arrival was only minutes away. Fr. Cleary had the difficult task of trying to prepare everyone spiritually by recounting a history of the Irish Church. Then at 10.30 Fr. Cleary looked up and said "I hear a sound in the sky". And a memorable close encounter of a very special kind began. Three helicopters came into view from the East and Podium for Mass. Once a the whole vast congregation Pope had sent St. Patrick to looked up and cheered. Two these shores; now the saint's image was never so striking. helicopeters landed Pope John Paul began the immediately with great noise, while the third, with Mass in Irish, a thoughtful its distinguished passenger, gesture that completed the circled the entire area, then unique historical link-up. came into land with the His presence aroused many white robes of the Holy emotions and thoughts as he Father clearly visible at a stood, the wind blowing his and window. It was a moment r o b e s , s m i l i n g charged with emotion; and acknowledging the heartthe crowd went wild with . felt welcome. cheers of welcome. When it was all over one T h e P o p e q u i c k l y young girl remarked: "He really does love us. He changed into striking wouldn't have come all this green Mass vestments and made his way up to the way if he didn't, would he?"

His Holiness Pope John Paul U addressing on Sunday.

Ireland's

Youth at

Galway