Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass in Madrid's Cathedral

Pope Benedict celebrated Mass with trainee priests

Pope Benedict XVI has been greeted by a sea of supporters as he arrived to celebrate Mass at Madrid's Almudena Cathedral.

He is in Spain for World Youth Day, a Catholic festival bringing together young pilgrims from around the world.


There have been several protests against the cost of the
four-day visit, which comes at a time of high unemployment and spending
cuts.


The event's organisers say most costs will be met by the pilgrims themselves.


On Friday riot police confronted protesters in Madrid's city
centre, as priests and teachers hurried young Catholic pilgrims down
side streets.


The protest began as the Pope, joined by hundreds of
thousands of supporters, took part in a Way of the Cross procession, in
memory of the crucifixion of Christ.


Before celebrating Mass at the cathedral with trainee
priests, the pope heard confession from four young pilgrims in the
city's Retiro Park, where 200 temporary confessionals had been set up.


The main event on Saturday is an open-air prayer vigil in a military airfield on the outskirts of Madrid.


The BBC's Sarah Rainsford says wherever the Pope goes hundreds of thousands of ecstatic Catholics are there to meet him.

Protesters were back out on the streets of Madrid on Friday

Up to a million pilgrims from across the world have gathered in the Spanish capital for events.


Celebrations for World Youth Day 2011 began on Tuesday
evening with a giant open-air Mass where about 800 bishops, archbishops
and cardinals- along with 8,000 priests - tended to the congregation.


The Pope arrived in Spain on Thursday and was greeted at
Madrid's Barajas airport by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia. He has
also meet Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero.