The AP reports that Pope Benedict XVI will arrive in Madrid on Thursday for a four-day visit to greet up to a million or more young pilgrims from around the planet for the Catholic Church's World Youth Day. The festivities kicked off in Spanish capital on Tuesday.

Susana Vera / Reuters
Pilgrims and Catholic nuns attend World Youth Day's opening mass at Madrid's Cibeles Square on August 16. Up to a million pilgrims are expected to attend various events during the week.

Rafa Rivas / AFP - Getty Images
Pilgrims wait near Cibeles square in Madrid on August 16 before a giant open-air mass.

Susana Vera / Reuters
Priests attend World Youth Day's opening mass at Cibeles Square on August 16.

Susana Vera / Reuters
Priests line up to give communion to pilgrims on August 16.

Susana Vera / Reuters
A priest takes off his robe after World Youth Day's opening mass on August 16.


As some do, I have a few problems with the church, gay rights being one of them. So the way I decided to create a voice is through painting.
The first painting I did is called "The Pope wears gold" . You can see it at
next will be titled Leviticus 18:22 let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
The
James
As some do, I have a few problems with the church, gay rights being one of them. So the way I decided to create a voice is through painting.
The first painting I did is called "The Pope wears gold" . You can see it at
The next will be titled Leviticus 18:22 let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
James
Earth to MSNBC, how ignorant can you be? The clergy wearing the Chasubles and Miters in the pictures are Bishops, not priests. Please correct this.