AGENDA FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY EVENTS IN ROME APRIL 10-13

VATICAN CITY, APR 3, 2003 (VIS) - Over 230 representatives and leaders of youth ministry, representing 80 counties and nearly 50 movements, associations and communities, will be in Rome from April 10 to 13 to take part in an international conference on World Youth Day at the Domus Mariae. The meeting was organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, according to a council communique released today.

The communique adds that "the conference has several objectives: on the first day to put together the experiences and observations of the participants in the World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, from both the logistical and pastoral points of view; on the second day, to initiate the path of spiritual preparation for the next world gathering, scheduled to take place in Cologne in two years. ... On the third day, to reflect on the many challenges and priorities facing youth ministry today." Representatives of both the Canadian and German episcopal conferences will be present.

Participants in this conference will join Rome's young people in their gathering with Pope John Paul on Thursday, April 10 as part of the celebrations of the 18th World Youth Day. On Saturday evening, April 12 they will participate in a prayer vigil organized by the San Lorenzo International Youth Center to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the center's founding. The 230 delegates will then join youth from the diocese of Rome and take part in the Holy Father's Palm Sunday Eucharist and the 18th World Youth Day celebrations in St. Peter's Square. The theme of the 2003 World Youth Day, which will end with the World Youth Day cross being passed from Canadian to German young people, is "Behold, Your Mother!"

On Saturday, April 12, the pontifical council will hold a press conference at 12:30 p.m. at the Domus Mariae, Via Aurelia 481, to speak about the work achieved during the conference. Participants will include Cardinals James Francis Stafford, council president, Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne and Karl Lehmann, bishop of Mainz and president of the German Episcopal Conference. Also present will be Bishop Stanislaw Rylko, secretary of the council for the laity, and Bishop Franz-Joseph Bode of Osnabruck, president of the Episcopal Commission for Youth.

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