Cologne, Germany, Aug 21, 2005 / 22:00 pm
In his concluding address, Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko expressed gratitude for the “unforgettable memory of the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II, who gave World Youth Day to the Church.
“His presence could be felt and almost touched during these past few days,” he said to the cheers of the young crowd.
The president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity thanked Pope Benedict XVI for having presided at the international youth event and presented the multitude of young pilgrims, saying: “These are young people proud to be Christians, which means disciples of Christ the Master! Here before you, is the youthful Church, a Church full of hope and missionary energy!”
He spoke of the impact of the international gathering on Cologne, Europe and the Church. “Felix Colonia! …Never in your long history have you seen such an impressive demonstration of faith,” he said.