Washington D.C., Jul 2, 2008 / 18:22 pm
In what American organizers claim is the largest international delegation to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, the U.S. will send 15,000 young people to the July event.
The pilgrims, most of whom are in their late teens and young adult years, are traveling to Australia in 1,140 groups of various sizes, with the largest being 520 people. They will be joined by 50 U.S. bishops, including Cardinal Francis George, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
For the first time at World Youth Day, the USCCB will sponsor a Mass for all U.S. groups in Sydney on Saturday morning July 19, in which Cardinal George will preside and deliver a homily. Other U.S. bishops will concelebrate the Mass, after which they will meet with pilgrims from their dioceses.
Several young people will have special roles during World Youth Day. Armando Cervantes, from the Diocese of Orange, will be one of twelve people from around the world selected to have lunch with Pope Benedict on July 18 in Sydney. Juan Martinez, from the Diocese of Austin, will be confirmed by Pope Benedict during the closing Mass on Sunday, July 20.