Damien Thompson, of Holy Smoke says:
The crowd-pulling power of Benedict XVI is almost miraculous, given the contrast with his openly charismatic predecessor, and his former image as a conservative “enforcer”. Who could have predicted that at World Youth Day in Spain – which was not even his first visit to that country as Pope – he would attract a crowd of a million young people?
Related link: Benedict XVI in Spain: a triumph for this 'meek man of mighty action' (despite the best efforts of the BBC)