Cologne, Germany, Aug 17, 2005 / 22:00 pm
World Youth Day pilgrims are eager to see Pope Benedict XVI and hear his first message to them for the international gathering.
“I’m happy that he has arrived” said Maria Ida Maroni. The 21 year-old Italian pilgrim is participating in her third World Youth Day. “Now that the Pope is here, I feel like we’re closer to living the World Youth Day experience.”
The Pope arrived in Cologne at noon today. He is expected to spend the late afternoon greeting the young pilgrims and the people of Cologne.
The Pope’s route is quite unique. He is expected to board a cruise ship close to the Rodenkirchener Bridge in the southern part of the city and sail north on the Rhine River for about two kilometers to the Zoobrücke Bridge.