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From London to Cologne, without forgetting New York and Madrid. Without forgetting Baghdad, the Holy Land and the many areas of the world torn and disfigured by violence, hatred, injustice. These areas include, in the European memory, the Balkans where the massacre of Srbrenica, among others, was perpetrated ten years ago. Benedict XVI, like his predecessor, has cried out: “Stop, in the name of God”. The youth of the 20th World Youth Day will be among those who echo his appeal to say “enough is enough!” to the men of terror, the men of wars, injustices and exploitation. Without confusion and without condonation. Many need to stop to give peace a chance: to allow peace and justice to advance on the path of the prophet Isaiah. The young are conscious of this. John Paul II held them by the hand for over a quarter of a century, accompanying them on a journey of responsibility that is continuing with Benedict XVI. And it is inspiring to think that these two great peacemakers will be “together” at Cologne, as Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of the city on the Rhine, has repeatedly assured. “Together” they will encourage the youth to have no fear and to throw open the doors wide to Christ, to others, to those who have different cultures and religions. If there had been, if there were, more days like that of Cologne in the world, i.e. times and places for meetings between the new generations, probably there would be more peace today. If there had been, if there were, more occasions for dialogue in the world on the great issues of life, justice and solidarity, probably there would be more hope today. Cologne, like the previous nineteen World Youth Days, would like to be this new message to a world that seems understandably gripped by fear of a forthcoming terrorist attack and by the spasmodic search for some security against this monster in our midst. The young will go to Cologne knowing that a shadow covers the world, knowing that the legitimate actions to prevent death and destruction will not be enough to vanquish evil. Their daring is precisely that of going to Cologne, just as the Magi went to Bethlehem, following a star not as an astrological clue but as sign of a Presence. A Presence that changed the direction of history. A Presence that today, too, can change the direction of history: to do so it needs the hands of man, and especially those of the young.
