7,000
young Canadians return home after the XXth World Youth Day
(Cologne
- CECC). « I invite you to join me in Sydney, Australia, in 2008, for the
XXIIIrd World Youth Day ». It's was with this invitation to over a
million young people gathered at Marienfeld, a huge field in the suburbs
of Cologne, Germany, that Pope Benedict XVI ended World Youth Day 2005.
Created by Pope John Paul II in 1985, WYD was again a great success as
shown by the large number of participants from all over the world who came
to Germany to take part in this international gathering. The Canadian
delegation was made up of nearly 7,000 young Canadians as well as 30
Bishops who made a point to join with their diocesan groups for this giant
celebration of the Christian faith.
"The presence of all these young people at the XXth World Youth Day
brings hope for the future of the Catholic Church and the transmission of
the Good News to the world", said Most Rev. Brendan M. O'Brien,
Archbishop of St. John's and president of the Canadian Conference of
Catholic Bishops (CCCB). "I praise John Paul II for having the vision
of this international gathering for Catholic youth as well as for those of
other denominations."
Under the theme "We have come to worship Him", WYD 2005 started
in the German dioceses, from August 11-15, and continued in the cities
Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf, August 16-21. Despite the tiredness due
to frequent and long travel and short nights, particularly the one spent
outdoor at Marienfeld, under a weather of only 12° Celsius during the
night of August 20-21, the young Canadian pilgrims greatly appreciated
their time in Germany.
This
was my third participation to WYD after Paris in 1997, and Rome in
2000", said Bianca Bourbeau, 26-years old, from Nicolet, Quebec.
"The reason I came to Germany was for the rich spiritual experience
of WYD and also to hear Benedict XVI personal message to the youth. "
In this regard, Benedict XVI followed in the footsteps of his predecessor,
John Paul II, and invited youth to work for the construction of a better
world. "I know that you have great aspirations, that you want to
pledge yourselves to build a better world. Let other see this, let the
world see it, since this is exactly the witness the world expects from the
disciples of Jesus Christ", said the Holy Father during the closing
mass.
