Cologne (Fides Service) -Young people all over the world are invited to take part in the 20th World Youth Day to be held in Cologne Germany from 11 to 21 August with the theme “We have come to adore Him” (Mt 2,2). About 800,000 young people are expected to be in Cologne for the main event, the Vigil and Mass with Pope Benedict XVI 20 and 21 August.
This major youth gathering will start with Days of Encounter 11 to 15 August in all the dioceses of Germany except Cologne during which the young participants will meet one another and meet their German hosts and hosting Church. They will pray together and take part in various activities and cultural visits. Each diocese has organised its own programme for the young guests according to local and regional features and customs.
This now customary preparatory part of World Youth Day is a time of intense sharing and great importance is given to hospitality: the young guests will learn about the country and also about the local Church and its pastoral activities. For German Catholics it is an opportunity to show their way of being Church. Local families will provide accommodation for the young guests on their way to Cologne. “We expect about 250,000 youngsters to take part in these days of encounter and we have found local families very ready to offer hospitality and at the moment we have more offers than necessary” said Father Georg Austen, WYD secretary for the German Bishops’ Conference with about three months to go. (MS) (Agenzia Fides, 23/5/2005 - 20 righe, 283 parole)