Archbishop Donald Wuerl on the Pope's appeal to young Catholics

Young Catholics will be some of Pope Benedict XVI's most enthusiastic fans when he visits Washington in two months.

David Coyne, 30, Silver Spring, aims to be at the April 17 papal Mass at the new Washington Nationals ballpark.

"I will get a ticket somehow and be there," he said.

Mr. Coyne joined nearly 320 other young people in Ireland's Four Fields pub in Northwest this week to discuss the upcoming papal visit with Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl and to get a chance to win tickets to the Mass. . . .

"These are young people who really do have great questions: How shall I live? What's the meaning of life? What's the purpose of life? ... I think they see in the pope answers to those questions because the pope reflects the voice of Christ," Archbishop Wuerl said.

During a question-and-answer session with the young adults, Archbishop Wuerl described his experience with Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, when he served as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

He described Benedict as "extraordinarily learned" and "just a very gentle and kind person" who would greet people at the end of meetings. . . .

He predicted that the papal message in the United States would be the standard Gospel, tracing back to the beginnings of Christianity.

"I look forward to the message he's going to bring. It's going to be rejuvenating. It's going to be a whole renewal of the faith of the people in this community," he said.

Young Catholics eager for pope's visit, by Matthew Cawvey. Washington Times February 22, 2008.