“Mariazell must become a place where pilgrims of different nationalities give a sign of unity, reconciliation and conviviality”, declared Father Heinrich Schnuderl, director of the office for pastoral ministry of Steiermark (the region in which the Marian sanctuary is situated), in the course of a press conference held in Graz in recent days. During the meeting details were published about the “Pilgrimage of peoples”, the culmination of the Katholikentag of the Catholics of Central Europe, due to be held at the Austrian Marian sanctuary on 22 May. According to the organizers, some 80,000 pilgrims from the eight countries taking part in the event are expected to arrive. “The Austrian Church, and in particular that of the Steiermark, are heralds of European integration thanks to their good contacts and partnership agreements with the parish communities of the countries of central and eastern Europe”, said Schnuderl. The liturgical celebrations planned to be held in Maziazell will begin on the evening of Friday 21 May with a liturgy of light in the Basilica. At the end of the pilgrimage, a message of the Austrian Episcopal Conference will be diffused, while two large cranes will support the canopy over the altar symbolizing the “European Building Site”: a sign to recall the commitment made by Christians in the construction of the “common European home”, that will accommodate 25 countries from 1st March.
