VATICAN CITY, JUL 12, 2002 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Laity has published the program of scheduled events for the 17th World Youth Day which will take place in Toronto, Canada from July 23 to 28 on the theme: "You are the salt of the earth....You are the light of the world."
World Youth Day will officially open on the afternoon of Tuesday July 23 with a Eucharistic celebration at Exhibition Place presided by Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, archbishop of Toronto. The cardinal will welcome young people from Canada as well as from other nations.
According to information provided by the office in charge of planning this event, 200,000 young people have registered to date. However, this figure does not include many Canadians who have not yet signed up. In addition, many young people from poor countries have had difficulties with their visas.
The welcoming ceremony with the Pope is scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday July 25 at Exhibition Place. On the mornings of July 24, 25 and 26, in more than 100 Churches and civic centers in Toronto, there will be sessions of catechesis for young people in various languages, led by bishops from all over the world. The themes for the three days are: "You are the salt of the earth"; "You are the light of the world"; "Be reconciled to God". All the catechesis sessions will conclude with Mass.
On the afternoons of July 24, 25 and 26, young people will be able to visit Coronation Park, situated on the outskirts of Ontario, which has been christened "Duc in Altum Park" for this occasion. Confessionals will be installed in the park and priests will be availabe for confession in different languages. One area of the park will be reserved for Eucharistic adoration.
In Exhibition Place on the afternoons of July 24, 25 and 26, there will be the Youth Festival which will include artistic, cultural and spiritual events based on the life and faith of young people from all around the world. For the first time, there will be the opportunity to participate in social service projects.
On the afternoon of July 26, the Way of the Cross will take place in several areas of Toronto. The main procession will depart from City Hall at 7:30 p.m. and will cross the center of the city along University Avenue.
The climax of World Youth Day will be the Vigil and Mass presided by Pope John Paul II at Downsview Park on the evening of Saturday July 27 and the morning of July 28. Young people will walk to Downsview Park after 8 a.m. on Saturday morning from different points of the city. The distance will be between 6 and 10 kilometers. The vigil will begin at 8 p.m. and will include prayer, music, testimony and the Holy Father's words.
The Holy Father will celebrate the concluding Mass of the 17th World Youth Day on Sunday July 28 at 9:30 a.m.
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