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one and a half million young pilgrims are expected to travel to Rome for the 15
World Youth Day and Youth Jubilee, Aug. 14-20.
They will come from at least 120 countries including Albania, Bosnia,
Brazil, Croatia, Cuba, Cameroon, Colombia, China, Israel, India, Lebanon, Macao,
Peru, Syria, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Turkey and Timor.
This time the Pope himself will be hosting the young people of World Youth Day in his own diocese, instead of being the guest of young people as in Paris, Manila, Denver, etc. It is expected to be the largest gathering in Rome during the whole Jubilee year. There will be representatives of other religious and inter-religious groups from India, the Philippines and other countries.
Future Church
"The future of the world and of the Church belongs to the younger generation, to those who, born in the last millennium, will reach maturity in the first century of the new one. Christ expects great things from young people, as he did from the young man who asked him, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to gain eternal life?’ (Matt. 19:16)' Young people in every generation, in every region of the world, should not cease to put such questions to Christ."
Pope John Paul II
Most of the young pilgrims will be staying with local families, in schools, institutes and other public places.
On Aug. 15, the feast of the Assumption, the youth will attend Mass in the respective nearest parish church. During the Mass there will be the washing of feet of a small group of pilgrims as a reminder not only of Jesus’ gesture of love to his disciples but also of Rome’s tradition of hospitality and care for the pilgrim travelers.
In the afternoon of Aug. 15, there will be the official opening with meetings with the Pope in St. Peter’s Square and in St. John Lateran. From the 16-18 the young people will attend catechesis given by Bishops in 32 different languages, in churches and other buildings on the theme “The word was made flesh and came to live among us.” In these three days groups will make their respective jubilee procession through the Holy Door in St. Peter’s. Moreover there will be 300 confessionals manned by 2000 priests situated at the Circus Massimo and international Masses to allow the young pilgrims to complete the Jubilee celebration.
In the afternoons, shows will include concerts, exhibitions, works of art, plays, all on the theme of the World Youth day, GMG2000 as it has been named for Rome.
On Aug. 18, there will be celebrations of the Stations of the Cross, in the center of Rome and in other sites, so that all the thousands of youngsters may take part. In the afternoon of the 19, the young pilgrims will move towards Tor Vergata University Campus for the main Youth Day celebrations, the Vigil and the Mass with the Pope. After sleeping in the open Saturday night, they will have their Mass for the 15 World Youth Day at the end of which the Pope will give them the missionary mandate to be courageous witnesses of Christ at home and abroad.
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)