THE PUBLIC MIND: PILGRIMAGE HELPS PROVE THE QUALITY OF TODAY'S YOUNG PEOPLE

To the Editor:

Those of us who hope for law and order in this country and peace and understanding in the world, can be encouraged by the actions and behavior of the youths who participated in the Catholic World Youth Pilgrimage in Denver.

More than 186,000 young people from 70 nations took part, including 450 from the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Catholic Diocese. The Denver Post newspaper printed article after article expounding on the good behavior of the pilgrims. Police and volunteers had nothing but admiration for the 45,000 to 60,000 youths on the 14-mile pilgrimage to Cherry Creek State Park outside Denver. "Even grizzled cops acting as course marshals were smiling, waving and joking with the marchers," one article stated. One police officer said, "They've been polite, respectful, really a delight." The Post stated, "Everyone seemed to agree: World Youth Day participants were remarkably well-behaved, and they offer hope for a better future and possibly a spiritual awakening." A ~Denver narcotics detective said the week had given him a new perspective. He said, "I tell you it's nice to be in a crowd of thousands of people where you don't smell marijuana."

Youths from all over the world who met in Denver came from such diverse places as Italy, France, Mexico, Nigeria, Haiti, Phillipines, Peru and Argentina. Spaniards from Seville danced, clapped and swirled to staccato guitar strum, introducing American youths to an infectious line dance. The youths sang, danced,joked and prayed together and trudged miles for a vigil with Pope John Paul II.

One Denverite onlooker shouted to a journalist, "This shows how many wonderful young people there are in this country and around the world. It's just like a shot of adrenaline it's so uplifting." The young people exchanged hats, cross necklaces, shamrocks from Ireland, red, green and white scarves from Italy and all sorts of trinkets. Those young people should never forget how they shared both materially and spiritually with people of other nations. This gives us ever more hope of peace and understanding among people in our future.

The ultimate sharing took place during the Holy Masses said by the p~ope because the huge crowds of people from all 70 nations could understand the Mass since it is the same Mass the world over, said in the same order by any priest in any nation. At the end they all said in unison, "T~hanks be to God." Then the Mass was over, but the spectacle and thrill of this gathering will remain in the memories of these young people forever.

~Shirley Ann Cracraft

Cape Girardeau