The Pope at Mariazell, the international pilgrimage of youth to the Marian sanctuary, and Sibiu 2007: these were the main focal points of the plenary of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, held at Mariazell in recent days. Benedict XVI’s forthcoming visit to Mariazell on 8 September is a “great spiritual gift to the Austrian Church”, declared the bishops. The fact that the papal visit to Mariazell and the Third European Ecumenical Assembly at Sibiu are being held at the same time will be underlined by a symbolical gesture: the Ecumenical Council of the Austrian Churches has prepared a candle that will be lit during the Vespers celebrated with the Pope on 8 September. “In that way a bridge will be formed between Mariazell and Sibiu to link together Christians in the one Lord”. The international youth pilgrimage to Mariazell (12-15 August) also represents an important event for the Austrian Church. “The youth of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Germany, France, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria will speak of their reality, rediscovering it in the light of faith, with their eyes focused on Christ”. Not only prayer: “The life of unemployed youth, experienced by hundreds of thousands of young people in Austria and in neighbouring countries, will be discussed in the workshops” in which politicians too will participate. A project of solidarity for the professional training of unemployed youth in Kossovo is also planned.
