“Youth and evangelization” is the slogan adopted by the Greek Episcopal Conference for the pastoral care of the young. Bishop Francesco Papamanolis of Syros, Santorini and Crete, who coordinates the national Commission for Youth Apostolate, explains: “The number of young Greek Catholics who are members of our youth organizations does not exceed 500. It should also be noted he points out that the immigrants now living in Greece, especially Poles and Iraquis, have not yet been absorbed into our organizations; this is due to their still provisional situation and also due to language difficulties, and differences in mentality and in rite. We plan, however, to go to World Youth Day in Toronto as a single group comprising about 20 Greeks, 30 Poles and 20 Iraquis”. Greek Catholic youth are represented in two youth organizations recognized by the Greek Episcopal Conference: the Ekne, or Union of Catholic Youth of Greece, and the Ekfe, of Union of Catholic University Students of Greece. The Ekne has its national Council and youth sections in almost all the parishes. In the diocese of Corfù and Salonica, the youth organization of the diocese coincides with that of the parish, having only one section. In the dioceses of Athens, Syros and Tinos, there’s a diocesan commission that coordinates the youth apostolate. The Ekfe too has its national Council, but in practice this is the same as the council of the Athens section, since only one section exists in Athens and another in Salonica. There also exist other small youth groups devoid of organization and mainly formed on the initiative of some priest or religious. They are groups of young men in search of their vocation.
