By Brenda Hernández
Madrid, June 5 (EFE).- As Spain prepares for the Pope’s visit beginning Saturday, thousands of volunteers are helping organize the public events expected to draw hundreds of thousands of faithful.
Among them are young Latin Americans eager to contribute and hopeful of seeing the Pontiff in person, even if only from a distance.
«As soon as I heard about it, I got really excited and thought, ‘This is my chance,'» Edna Sofía Solano, a Honduran living in Spain, told EFE. Learning of the papal visit inspired her to get involved in any way she could.
Her greatest hope is to see the Pope, «even from afar.»
She considers the experience a unique opportunity, believing it is unlikely she would have a similar chance in her native Latin America.
«I’m a big believer in blessings, and I know this will bring many good things into my life,» said Edna, 29, who was selected as a volunteer team leader for Saturday evening’s youth vigil in Madrid and Sunday’s Mass at Plaza de Cibeles.
Rocío Barraza, 27, a native of Santiago, Chile, who has lived in Madrid since last September, will be responsible for 26 people.
Barraza signed up as a volunteer in March and was also chosen to coordinate other volunteers during the vigil, a gathering with the Pope that will combine music and prayer.
Helping manage a major event
«I’ll be working on the ground,» she said, noting that her team will oversee access points, distribute water and provide information to attendees.
Although Catholic, Barraza said her main motivation for volunteering was the opportunity to understand the logistics behind an event of such magnitude.
«I really enjoy seeing things from different perspectives,» she said, recalling her previous volunteer work at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago and with Helsinki España, an organization focused on human rights education and peacebuilding.
She added that her training as a midwife and her first-aid knowledge likely contributed to the Archdiocese of Madrid selecting her as a volunteer team leader.
Having moved to Spain to pursue a master’s degree, Barraza sees the Pope as a figure who is «close to Latin American culture» and said she shares his concerns about the risks posed by artificial intelligence.
«For me, this is more of a cultural experience than a religious one; I’m Jewish,» said Sofía Morgenstern, a 27-year-old Mexican volunteer who signed up «out of curiosity and to experience it firsthand.»
Morgenstern will staff an information point at Plaza de Lima during Saturday afternoon’s vigil.
According to organizers, nearly 22,000 volunteers registered to assist with the Pope’s itinerary and events during his visit to Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife from June 6 to 12.
About 10,000 volunteers will have the opportunity to meet the Pope at a special event of thanks scheduled for June 9 at Madrid’s IFEMA exhibition center.
The visit marks the first trip to Spain by a pontiff in 15 years. The last papal visit took place in 2011, when Pope Benedict XVI traveled to Madrid for World Youth Day. EFE
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