Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sydney (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of Australia would like to host the World Youth Day 2007. As preparations for WYD in Germany 2005 go ahead, in a statement issued at the end of a plenary assembly in Sydney the Bishops’ Conference of Australia announced it would make an official request to the Pontifical Council for the Laity which in turn will present the request to the Pope. Besides Australia, South Africa and Bolivia, have asked to host this increasingly popular major youth event we see from the web site www.korazym.org.
The Bishops of Australia are preparing a book to present Sydney as an ideal site for World Youth Day 2007.
The Bishops refer to two major events hosted by Sydney: Olympic Games in 2000 and Rugby World Championship in 2003, which demonstrated that the city is able to organise world events. They underline that the WYD in Australia would boost the spiritual life in the country and rekindle interest for the faith among Australian youth.
The political parties on the new continent have said they are ready to help the Church organise the event. The Sydney Catholic Weekly, said WYD 2007 could unite Australia’s government and Opposition and that “Sydney would be a fantastic city for World Youth Day, an event which would bring young pilgrims to Australia from all over the world”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/2/2004 lines 13 words 131)
