He forced a demon, under obedience, to answer why.

 

The response: “He pulled so many young people out of my hands.”

 

When John Paul II was discerning where to have World Youth Day 1993, the first in the US, his advisors presented him with Catholic cities that were bidding for the opportunity. He took out a map and pointed to Denver, which wasn’t on their list! They tried to get him to change his mind, but he insisted. He saw it as a modern, secular, non-Catholic city (and he was right). Which is precisely why he chose it.

 

Reporters predicted it would be a failure. So did many in the Church. Instead, 750,000 young people came to celebrate their Catholic faith with the Pope. World Youth Days, which happen every 3-4 years, have only grown since.

 

I was there in Denver. It was life changing. Empowering. There was nothing like hearing the Pope’s voice speak to the world, and to me.

 

I went back to that field 10 years ago when I was new in Denver to film this video. Hearing his voice still moves me to tears.

 

“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings Good News.” (Isaiah 52:7)

 

The Good News can conquer any darkness, win any culture war, break through any wall, and penetrate any hard heart. John Paul II knew that. May we rest in that too, and share it.

 

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)