VATICAN CITY, 4 MAR 2008 (VIS) - On the morning of Sunday 9 March, the Pope will celebrate the Eucharist in the Roman church of San Lorenzo in Piscibus. The church is part of the San Lorenzo International Youth Centre which is located very near St. Peter's Square. The centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The San Lorenzo International Youth Centre was inaugurated by John Paul II on 13 March 1983. During a Eucharistic celebration held that day, the then Pope expressed the hope that the centre may become "a forge for the formation of authentic young Christians who are capable of bearing coherent witness to the Gospel in today's world".
According to a press communique released this morning, the "house for young people", supported by the Pontifical Council for the Laity and located next to the Holy See, is "a place of welcome, prayer, formation and encounter for young people from all over the world who are in Rome on pilgrimage". It is also "the site where the World Youth Day cross is kept".
The Eucharistic celebration presided by Benedict XVI will inaugurate a series of initiatives planned to mark the 25th anniversary. Because the church is so small, the celebration will only be attended by the young people from various countries who work in the centre, and by a number of guests.
On Thursday 13 March, another Eucharistic celebration will be held, this time presided by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. It will be followed by a prayer vigil and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, due to last until midnight.
On Friday 14 March, another vigil will take place, organised by the community of Taize and presided by Frere Alois, prior of the community. On Saturday 15 March a meeting of reflection and witness will be held on the theme of "the history and mission of the San Lorenzo International Centre" to be attended by Cardinal Rylko and by Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical council "Cor Unum", who promoted the foundation of the centre 25 years ago.
The events will come to an end on Palm Sunday 16 March with the Mass presided by the Pope in St. Peter's Square.
The San Lorenzo International Youth Centre, which welcomes all young people, remains open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Mass is celebrated every evening, followed by Eucharistic adoration.
.../SAN LORENZO CENTRE/... VIS 20080304 (430)
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