World Youth Day 2011: spot the Malaysian flag

Initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985, World Youth Day youth-oriented events for the celebration of the Catholic faith are held every three years in a different country.

World Youth Day 2011 (WYD 2011) runs 16-21 August 2011 in Madrid.

Up to 1 million pilgrims from across the world have gathered in the city for events which will culminate with an open-air mass on Sunday celebrated by the Pope.

Lincoln Lee mentioned on 7th August that according to the event's official website, there'll be 476 pilgrims from Malaysia. From other ASEAN countries: Singapore - 282, Indonesia - 827, Thailand - 94, Brunei - 21, Philippines - 3417, Vietnam - 387, Laos - 17, Cambodia - 59, Myanmar - 54.

WYD 2011 officially began on Tuesday evening with a giant open-air Mass where about 800 bishops, archbishops and cardinals from around the world - along with 8,000 priests - tended to the congregation.

More than 100 groups opposed to the Pope's visit protested on Wednesday evening.