Cologne, Germany, Aug 17, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Welcomed by a cheering crowd along the banks of the Rhine river, Pope Benedict spoke for the first time to the youth describing himself as a pilgrim, along with the thousands of young people coming from around the world.
After a brief welcome by representatives of the youth, present on the boat, he then greeted all those gathered underlining their common path towards Christ, and extending this greeting to “those among you who have not been baptized, and those of you who do not yet know Christ or have not yet found a home in his Church”, extending his call to non-believers.
Surrounded by an attentive audience, Pope Benedict expressed the importance of the Church “as the place where God's merciful love reaches out to all people. In the Church and through the Church you will meet Christ, who is waiting for you.”
Honoring the memory and the legacy of the founder of these youth gatherings, Pope John Paul II “who had the inspired idea of calling young people from all over the world to join in celebrating Christ, the one Redeemer of the human race.” Pope Benedict invited them to put his teaching into practice.