On the traces of the Cross” “

The approaching World Youth Day can already be felt in the air in Germany: one of the reasons is the start of the pilgrimage “Traces of the Cross” (Kreuzspuren) from Dresden to Cologne on 8 July. This is a pilgrimage on foot that will cover a distance of 750 km, traversing Germany from East and West and using ancient pilgrim’s ways. WYD is now omnipresent, even on postage stamps: the commemorative WYD stamp has recently been presented. Stamps, said Cardinal KARL LEHMANN during the presentation, “are bridge-builders”: a goal perfectly in tune with the objectives of WYD. “TracES OF THE CROSS”. The pilgrimage that introduces WYD began in Dresden under the pouring rain. The Cross was handed over to the first 50 youth by a group from the diocese of Münster. The pilgrimage will end in Cologne on 16 August. In its journey through Germany, the Cross will be followed by youth and by 30 bishops who will take turns to accompany it along Germany’s ancient pilgrim’s ways. “The young are giving a clear signal of solidarity and human communion”, said Bishop Franz-Josef Bode, at the start of the pilgrimage. Father Georg Austen, secretary of WYD for the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK), said that “the Cross unites in the faith people of all nations”. Father Michael Kühn, director of the DBK office of youth ministry, underlines the “political dimension” of the pilgrimage that will also pass through Buchenwald, and so offers the chance to commemorate the victims of Nazism. It will also pass through Erfurt, where a protest will be held against violence in schools (it’s the German city sadly remembered for the shooting spree in a secondary school that left 18 people dead in 2002). To mark the beginning of the pilgrimage, an ecumenical service was held at the Hofkirche in Dresden: Bishop Joachim Reinelt of Dresden-Meißen, Bishop Bode of Osnabrück, DBK delegate for youth ministry, together with representatives of the Evangelical Church, prayed together with the young, also commemorating the victims of the terrorist attacks in London. And with regard to pilgrimages, the publisher Bachem Verlag has issued a booklet with the title “Mitgepilgert!” (“Join us in pilgrimage!”) in which the pilgrimage routes round Cologne are described. The booklet is also available in English. “And the winner is…” On 4 July the winner will be announced of the competition held by the underconstruction project (the prize: an invitation to participate in the ceremony of welcoming the arrival of the Pope in Cologne on 18 August): six youth from the diocese of Magdeburg were short-listed from among the hundreds of social-work projects received by the data bank. But all the action groups were invited to continue to send in their own projects, which could be put into practice during the so-called Day of Social Commitment planned for 12 August. For all projects a photo can be inserted in the data bank, which is equipped with an e-card function. So, even after WYD, thanks to the network of solidarity formed during the meeting, it will be possible to remain in contact and ensure that the Day of Social Commitment is not a one-off but will continue in time with all its projects. THE POPE AND THE SEMINARIANS. Some 5,000 seminarians will meet the Pope during WYD in Cologne: the meeting will take place in the church of St. Pantaleon at 5.00 pm on Friday 19 August. Enrolment should be completed by 31 July, accompanied by a letter from the local bishop certifying the presence of the seminarian in question in the local seminary. A WYD WITHOUT BARRIERS. Thousands of disabled persons are expected to attend the 20th WYD. The WYD organization has made provision for service–points with the aim of integrating the disabled in all the events planned for WYD. According to Hermann–Josef Johanns, head of the WYD office, “each assistant must have a particular eye for the needs of the handicapped”. The dedication to the disabled is also enshrined in a manual “WYD and freedom from barriers” that documents the preparations and presents prospects for future WYDs and other events. “With its commitment to the disabled, WYD is inspired by a Christian principle of solidarity with our neighbour”. POSTAGE STAMPS AND WYD. The commemorative postage stamp of WYD 2005 was officially presented in Bonn on 11 July. It is the first ever stamp issued simultaneously by the German Finance Ministry and the Vatican. The stamp carries images of a Cross and of the world. Issued in 19 million copies, it was presented to Benedict XVI in Rome by German Finance Minister Hans Eichel last week. Stamps, said Cardinal Lehmann, “are a simple but reliable means of publicity for the event”. The German Post Office, official partner of the 20th WYD, has issued a set of postcards and letters with the WYD logo already stamped and ready for mailing.