Pope urges all youth to make spiritual pilgrimage leading up to WYD

Jul 31, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Pope Benedict XVI invited the young Catholics of the world, even those who are unable to participate at World Youth Day (WYD) in Cologne, Germany, in mid-August “to be united in a common spiritual pilgrimage toward the sources” of the Catholic faith during this time.

Nearly 400,000 young people have registered for WYD 2005, from Aug. 16 to 20. The Pope will be present with the young people from Aug. 18 to 20.

WYD, based on the intuition of Pope John Paul II, “constitutes a privileged encounter with Christ, knowing that only He offers fullness of life, joy and love,” said the Pope prior to the Sunday Angelus at his summer resort in Castel Gandolfo.

“Every Christian is called to enter into profound Communion with the Lord, crucified and risen, and to adore Him in prayer, meditation and above all in the Eucharist, at least on Sundays, which is a small ‘weekly Easter,’” Benedict continued.

“In this way, believers become ready to announce and witness to the beauty and the renewing force of the Gospel,” he added.

He also appealed to the Virgin Mary to watch over the pilgrims and to “guide them in a special way on their search for true good and authentic joy.”