Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sydney (Agenzia Fides) - “World Youth Day is a new Pentecost, desperately needed by Australia” says Bishop Julian Porteous auxiliary Sydney who has encouraged young Australians to reflect on a “new Pentecost” since this is the intention of Pope Benedict XVI who chose the theme “You will be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and you will be my witnesses. “WYD - the Bishop said - is more than an event it is a time for profound spiritual renewal, which will bear fruits for the whole of our society”.
Bishop Porteous said this during a Mass on the occasion of a visit to Australia by a delegation of the Pontifical Council for the Laity including the Council's president, the newly appointed Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, and secretary Archbishop Josef Clemens, accompanied by 200 international delegates. The delegation visited the sights of the event and congratulated all those involved.
“On behalf of the Pontifical Council I express deep gratitude to the Catholic Church in Australia, the archdiocese of Sydney, the Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell and the organising committee co-ordinated by Bishop Anthony Fisher”, said Cardinal elect Stanislaw Rylko. “We wish to thank the civil authorities, state and federal who supported the initiative from the beginning. We are truly grateful”.
In preparation for the event the organisers had a meeting with 15 leaders of Jewish communities in Australia. The meeting coordinated by Stepan Kerkyasharian, president of the Commission for relations between communities, was followed by an informative session for Muslim community leaders.
WYD Bishop Coordinator Anthony Fisher, said the session was an opportunity to discern how other faith communities can collaborate in this event organised by the Catholic Church, which will take place in Sydney 15 - 20 July 2008: “Although WYD are a Catholic initiative they have always had a positive impact on other faith communities in the hosting country. This is the key message we wished to communicate to the authorities present”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/10/2007 righe 27 parole 278)
