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How it all started
„Welcome to Köln 2005“: The invitation was issued in the summer of
2002 on TV. Millions of people watched 800,000 young people celebrating together
with the Pope the closing mass of the XVII World Youth Day in Toronto. Finally,
in the last minutes of this moving event John Paul II invited the young people
of the world to the next international meeting in Germany:
„In the impressive Cathedral of Cologne the Three Magi are worshipped, the wise men from the East, who followed the star that guided them to Christ. Your pilgrimage to Cologne starts today. Christ is waiting there for you to celebrate the XX World Youth Day.“
Since then preparations for the big celebration of faith have been running at full speed – in Cologne and troughout Germany.
Who is expected?
The XX World Youth Day 2005 is a pilgrimage of faith and a colourful
event in every respect. People between 16 and 30 are invited. They will pour
into Germany from more than 120 countries. The Pope and about 400.000 registered
participants are expected. There number will almost double by the end of the
event. Their will be accompanied by approximately 600 bishops and cardinals as
well as by 4,000 international journalists. For ten days the eyes of the world
will be on Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia and the Cologne region.
What will happen?
The events and the guests are diverse. We will start with the Days of
Encounter in the German dioceses: From August 11 until August 15 young people
are guests in parishes all over Germany. Getting to know each other, exchanging
ideas and thoughts, making new experiences is in the centre of attention during
these days. The motto of this event is: „Guests are a blessing “. Right in the
middle of this period, on August 12 2005, Germany is „under construction“: On
the Day of Social Service guests and their hosts will join to begin to build a
new civilisation of love and justice by taking part in numerous projects.
The week in Cologne
The central events of the XX World Youth Day will begin on August 16
and will end on August 21 2005. International guests and their hosts will travel
on Monday 15 August to the Archdiocese of Cologne in order to come together the
next day to join the opening mass at the Poll meadows on the shores of the
Rhine. For three days at approximately 400 different places small groups will
talk about faith and celebrate together. The Youth Festival will bring music,
dance and performances from around the world to stages in Düsseldorf, Bonn and
Cologne.
On Thursday the man who started it all and who invited the young people to the World Youth Day will arrive in Germany: The Pope will be welcomed with a big celebration at the Poll meadows. Friday is the day of the Way of the Cross, when the young pilgrims will contemplate the passion of Jesus Christ.
Finally
On Saturday all pilgrims will make their way to Marienfeld (a former
open-cast mine in Frechen), the venue for the major final celebrations. During
the evening hours they will join the Holy Father in celebrating a Vigil. The
young pilgrims will spend the night there and on Sunday morning during the final
Mass, say farewell to Cologne and the XX World Youth DayJust a few moments
before this big event ends the Pope will send the young people out into the
world. He will then issue a next invitation: “You are invited to….“