CONFERENCE FOCUSSES ON 2005 WORLD YOUTH DAY IN GERMANY

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2003 (VIS) - The International Conference for World Youth Day, which has brought together over 280 youth leaders from around the world, representing dioceses, and ecclesial movements and associations, began its second day of meetings this morning in Rome's Domus Mariae residence and conference center. Last evening the youth leaders joined Rome's young people in pre-World Youth Day festivities with Pope John Paul in St. Peter's Square. The 18th World Youth Day (WYD) is this coming Palm Sunday.

Following a Eucharistic celebration this morning, the plenary session was held which focussed in World Youth Day 2005 which will be held in Germany. Bishop Stanislaw Rylko, secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the conference organizer, gave an introduction to Germany. He spoke on the Catholic Church in Germany, the archdiocese of Cologne, and the significance of WYD for Germany.

At 11:15 there were various workshops according to language groups. Participants exchanged ideas and made suggestions about the pastoral and spiritual preparation for the 2005 WYD.

This afternoon the first plenary session will be dedicated to presentations by the work groups. During a second plenary, the German organizing committee will be introduced and information and plans for the 2005 WYD, as they have been developed so far, will be presented. Tonight at 7, a reception is planned at the German Embassy to the Holy See.

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