The camel of the Three Magi” “

14 sections, 8 work groups, scores of volunteers in all the dioceses and a team of some thirty persons, all working full time. The organizational machine of Cologne is now in full swing. The final goal will be the 20th World Youth Day scheduled to be held in Cologne in August 2005. “It’s an event that sees the German Church directly involved, but not only it. Recently I met important exponents of the German government who asked me to organize something ‘wonderful and special because Germany really needs it'”, declared the general secretary of the WYD, Msgr. Heiner Koch , to whom the whole organization of the event has been entrusted, “But it should not be forgotten – he adds smiling – that the WYD in Cologne began two thousand years ago when the Three Magi came to worship Jesus. Today the Three Magi are in Cologne” (where their relics are venerated in the Cathedral). SIR went to Cologne to meet him. How is the Church in Cologne preparing for this event? “We have established the Office of the WYD with organizational and logistic tasks without in any way ignoring the pastoral and spiritual needs. In this regard we are organizing a ‘week of spirituality’ in which we will invite all the parishes of Cologne and the archdiocese to pray and reflect in preparation for the Day”. How are the young responding to this invitation? “The situation of the young in Germany is particular. It’s enough to think that in the former East Germany 80% of the young are not baptised. Here in the West they are almost all baptised but with a very personalistic way of understanding the faith and spiritual life. The paths to be pursued to meet the young are very varied. What is needed in a diversified ministry but with strong points in common”. Such as? “First of all, clearly posing the question ‘who is God?’, and what meaning he has for each person. In the second place, not failing the community of the young who are already embarked on the road of the faith with the support and encouragement of the Church. To intercept the young we have decided to go to the places where they meet together, and adopt a language that they can understand. Environments where they study, where they spend their leisure time, where they work: all places are good for preaching the Gospel and introducing the young to WYD”. What about non-believers? “The WYD will try to involve everyone, believers and non-believers. No one must feel himself/herself excluded. I think the whole of German society feels the need for a new proclamation of the Christian faith. There are many we could not define as atheists, who do not express the faith, and who consider it an aspect that’s not fundamental for their life. With them too we wish to forge contacts and enter into dialogue. It’s incredible to see how people pay attention when one speaks of faith”. Cologne is the city of the Three Magi… “… and they came from various parts of the world. Their presence in our Cathedral is an ecumenical appeal. We hope that the young will come here from all over the world. The Three Magi understood the divine signs and departed to seek the King of Kings. They also got lost on the way but at the end they found him. They travelled a huge distance on the back of a camel to reach their goal. I hope that Cologne may represent for many young people the camel to arrive at Jesus. If this happens, we will have succeeded in our purpose”.