VATICAN CITY, APR 10, 2000 (VIS) - A press conference was held this morning in the Holy See Press Office to present the 15th World Youth Day, which will take place in Rome from August 14 to 20. With over one million young people expected in Rome during that period, World Youth Day is considered the premier event of the Jubilee Year 2000.
Cardinal James Francis Stafford, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, which organizes these celebrations, reviewed the history of World Youth Days. He underlined that this year is "the Jubilee anniversary" of World Youth Days because this initiative of Pope John Paul's was born during the Holy Year of the Redemption in 1984 and culminates now in another Jubilee Year.
He recalled that the participation of young people in the first such day was "massive and enthusiastic. ... World Youth Days, an expression of the special charism that John Paul II has in communicating with young people, soon revealed themselves to be one of the 'prophetic choices' of his pontificate."
Cardinal Stafford then underlined the "traditional meanings" of World Youth Days: "strong moments of evangelization for young people, the Church and the world; ... an efficacious sign of ecclesial communion between young people, between them and their bishop and among diverse groups, movements and associations; ... a great challenge of renewal for young people ."
He also stressed the fact that youth "will be crossing the threshold of the Holy Door. They will thus renew their Baptism experience, because Baptism is a 'limina' experience of initiation; it is precisely like crossing a threshold, leaving behind the old and entering into a new communion."
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope's vicar for the diocese of Rome, focussed on two factors in his presentation: the number of young people expected for World Youth Day 2000 and where and how they will be lodged. He said that between one million and one-and-a-half million young people are expected: approximately 200,000 for the celebrations in local Italian dioceses from August 10 to 14 and upwards of one million for youth day in Rome from August 14 to 20.
The youth will be lodged in public buildings, public and private schools, parishes, universities, religious institutes, welcome centers and with private families. An estimated 15,000 will sleep in tents. Twenty-five thousand will act as volunteers. The cardinal added that 1.5 million letters were sent to families in the diocese of Rome, asking them to welcome young people into their homes in August.
Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe, secretary general of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee 2000, highlighted the "special harmony" that exists between the Holy Father and young people throughout the world. He recalled that the Pope's meeting with youth during his jubilee pilgrimage, in Korazim on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, was "a foretaste of the meaning of the Jubilee and of World Youth Day 2000."
"Just as the extraordinary meeting at Korazim was the largest and most highly attended liturgical assembly ever to take place in the land of Jesus, so we feel that World Youth Day 2000 will remain in everyone's memory, and in the chronicles of the Great Jubilee, as a historic event."
Bishop Cesare Nosiglia, president of the Italian Committee for World Youth Day, outlined the program for those days. The Youth Day will begin on August 15, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin, when the young people will be welcomed in all the parish communities of Rome. During the evenings of August 16, 17 and 18, experiences of faith and fraternity are scheduled to be exchanged between the young people present.
On the afternoon of Friday 18, the young people will take part in a 'Via Crucis' (Way of the Cross), which will finish in the Colosseum. At the same time, other 'Via Crucis' will take place, organized by the young people in the areas of Rome in which they are staying.
Bishop Nosiglia highlighted that "the Youth Day's central message as well as the special themes of the Jubilee will also characterize the prayer vigil, due to take place on the night of Saturday, August 19 at Rome's Torvergata University. The young people will begin arriving at the university in the morning, undertaking the last part of the journey on foot. They will be welcomed with songs, prayers and testimonies from groups of young people from all over the world.
He added that, in the Mass of August 20, the Pope "will deliver a missionary mandate, asking the young people to be valiant and generous witnesses of Christ and of faith in Him in their countries throughout the world."
Finally he said that the Italian Committee for World Youth Day "has decided to give the proceeds of their solidarity fund as a contribution towards allowing large number of young people from countries at war to participate in the event."
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