Million youth expected to converge in Germany for 20th World Youth Day 2005

Cologne, Germany – About a million youth from different parts of the world are expected to converge in Cologne, Germany and take part in the 20th World Youth Day 2005, including meeting Pope Benedict XVI who has promised to be there.

World Youth Day, scheduled to be held this year, from August 16–21, 2005, is actually a pilgrimage of young people and a festival of interaction and solidarity. Youth from all over the world are invited to attend the global celebration.

From India, the CBCI Youth Commission would lead a group of 220 delegates which includes bishops, priests, religious sisters, youth animators, inter religious delegates and teenagers, the Executive Secretary of the CBCI Youth Commission, Fr. Allwyn D’Souza said.

The purpose of World Youth Day is to take up the main concern of Pope John Paul II– a renewed participation of the youth in the evangelisation work of the Church.

The World Youth Day is an event that brings Catholic youth from over 150 countries for the celebration of their youth and faith. The young people gather with the Holy Father in a spirit of faith and festivity.

In the words of the late Pope John Paul II, the World Youth Day gives young people to discover the “young and modern mystery of the Church” through the common experience of pilgrimage, prayer and worship.

The World Youth Day is designed to benefit both hosts and guests. It becomes an opportunity for the youth of the host country to interact with the youth of the world and church leaders.

Traditionally, World Youth Day is celebrated in two ways –every year in local churches with the Pope in Rome, on Palm Sunday and every two years with international gathering of young people from all continents.

The city for the international venue is chosen each time by the Pope, who usually announces it on Palm Sunday of the previous year or at the end of the previous international celebration.

It was Pope John Paul II who founded the World Youth Day in 1986 when he invited the youth of the world to Rome. Little did the world realize that the day would draw such great importance and become a global event.

Every year the Pope sends a message to young people throughout the world for the next World Youth Day. The event is not only meant for Catholics but it is open to all.

The theme for the World Youth Day 2005 is “We have come to worship him” (Mt 2:2). It is the theme that inspires and invites young people from every continent to tread the path of the Wise Men to reach Jesus the Savior.