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 Italy
– Preparation of the
World Youth Day
The first International Meeting of
those responsible for the World Youth Day in preparation for the 2008 WYD in
Sydney, Australia, was held at Sassone di Ciampino (Rome) from the 7th to 9th
April. There were more than 250 delegates
from 85 countries and representatives of 45 communities, associations and
Catholic youth movements present at the meeting organised by the Pontifical
Council for the laity. Xavi Ramos, International Councillor of You.Fra and Br.
Ivan Matić, OFM, Assistant General, represented the Young Franciscans.
Xavier Ramos,
Mons. Josef Clemens, Fr. Ivan, Card. George Pell
 The
first day was presided by Card. Meisner, Archbishop of Cologne (Germany), and by
the WYD Commission of Cologne. They presented the results of the World Youth Day
of 2005, describing the preparations and the fruits produced by the initiative
for the Diocese of Cologne and for Youth
Pastoral Activity in all Germany. The following day Msgr. Josef Clemens,
Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, presented the topic for the
WYD 2008: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then
you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1,8). After the presentation, the Commission for
the 2008 WYD and the Archbishop of Sydney, Card. George Pell, described the
preparations being made, the challenges and the expectations of the Australian
Church from the event. The Delegates for the XXI World Youth Day, participated
in the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, presided by Benedict XVI, on the 9th April,
Palm Sunday. At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the German Youth handed
over the Cross of the WYD to the Australian Youth. Before going to Australia,
the WYD Cross will be brought in pilgrimage to Dakar (Senegal), where it will
remain for all the Easter celebrations. This is the first stage of a long
journey through some twenty countries of the African continent, ending in
February 1007. From February 2007, the Cross will be carried in pilgrimage
through the numerous islands of Oceania to Sydney, its final destination, where
the meeting of WYD will take place from the 15th to 20th July 2008.
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