The “heart of WYD”, or the spiritual proposals offered by World Youth Day (WYD), to be held in August this year, were presented yesterday by Father Ulrich Hennes, secretary of WYD, during a press conference in Cologne. The Spiritual Centre, catechesis, the pilgrimage to the cathedral and the Centre for Reconciliation are the main points of the spiritual programme aimed at “putting people in form to be Christians”, said Father Hennes. In his view, the spiritual side of the event must “realise the Pope’s vision and help build a world of peace and justice”. 248 churches will host the catechesis pronounced by bishops from all over the world in some 30 different languages: 210 of the churches are Catholic, 7 Evangelical and one Orthodox. 30 discussions on the faith will be held in stadiums, gymnasia and universities. Also planned is a catechesis in the form of a pilgrimage to the Cathedral through the city and along the banks of the Rhine. “During the three days of the event, 400,000 young people will visit the Sanctuary of the Three Magi”, predicted Father Hennes. To this end the Cathedral will be emptied and be open uninterruptedly from six in the morning to midnight. The disabled too will be enabled to participate in the pilgrimage, which will conclude with a eucharistic celebration at the Tanzbrunnen in Cologne. A Spiritual Centre will be set up in 20 churches in Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf, and be open uninterruptedly from 16 to 20 August: these centres will be places “in which the young will deepen their spirituality”, with the animation of the Taizé and Chemin Neuf movements, explained Father Funk of the WYD Committee. A Centre for Reconciliation will also be set up in Cologne’s trade fair: over 100 priests will be available for confession in some 30 languages between 17 and 19 August, from 08.00 to 24.00.
