¡Viva Yago de la Cierva & World Youth Day Madrid!

World Youth Day is not a luxurious party for a megalomaniacal octogenarian that drains a different nation's economy every three years...

"Setting the record straight about World Youth Day"

Snippets from Christopher Stefanick's article in Today's Catholic. Friday, December 9, 2011.

"To set the record straight, in case you were successfully spun: World Youth Day is not a luxurious party for a megalomaniacal octogenarian that drains a different nation's economy every three years.

"According to the executive director of World Youth Day Madrid, Yago de la Cierva, not a dime of the event's expenses came from the taxpayers of Madrid.

"About 30 percent was from donations and 70 percent from fees the pilgrims paid.

"World Youth Day brings in about one million visitors who spend at least $20 per day for at least six days.

"That's a minumum of $120 million.

"Perhaps the rioters should turn their anger toward math illiteracy."

And that's not all! :)

"Have you ever waited 90 minutes to use a porta - potty?

"I have!

"Only at World Youth Day.

"It's a pilgrimage in the truest sense.

"While vacations are for rest and luxury -- if you can afford the latter -- pilgrimages tend to be packed with redemptive suffering.

"This can be especially true at a World Youth Day.

"Even if pilgrims attempt to avoid austerity, it has a way of finding you when you're in a crowd one million strong.

"There's simply no way for a city to gracefully accommodate such numbers.

"World Youth Day pilgrims are often hungry, thirsty, tired and without access to bathrooms, among other basic necessities.

"Though miraculously they're usually smiling! ..."

Way to go, Professor! :)

"Visit him at chris-stefanick . com "