Bishop decries behavior of some World Youth Day delegates

MANILA, Philippines—The World Youth Day pilgrimage should not be turned into a graduation tour and shopping spree, a Catholic bishop is advising future participants.

Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon said that while many delegates to the recent 26th WYD in Madrid participated in the event’s religious exercises, others spent their time sightseeing and shopping in the Spanish capital.

He urged future participants to focus more on their spiritual needs—a seemingly apt advice as the next WYD will be held in that hedonists’ paradise, Brazil.

“In general, a good number of our delegates have participated in the WYD wholeheartedly and endured the hectic schedule of the pilgrimage. But admittedly, there are some who chose to be comfortable rather than to sacrifice,” Baylon told CBCPNews, the news agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Baylon, who chairs the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Youth , reminded the “deviant” Filipino delegates of their primary reason for attending the WYD.

“The WYD is not the time for tourism. The delegates should find time for touring around, shopping and socializing with other delegates only after the WYD,” Baylon said.

“I hope that our delegates will seriously participate in the next WYD and see their sacrifices as part of the blessings of the pilgrimage. After all, the WYD is a time which calls for self sacrifice,” he added.

According to the commission, at least 2,000 Filipinos attended the WYD in Madrid from Aug. 16 to 21. Of this number, 427 were under the Episcopal Commission on Youth delegation.

Fr. Conegondo Garganta, the commission’s executive secretary, earlier appealed to Filipino delegates who are still in Europe to make sure they return home and not turn into undocumented workers.