"We too, young Christians of Baghdad, after adequate preparation in a spirit of brotherly union with Your Holiness and with the thousands of youth in Cologne, have celebrated this World Youth Day in prayer, reflection and joyful rejoicing". These are the opening words of the message that over a thousand young Catholics in Baghdad, belonging to different rites, and some young Orthodox have sent to Benedict XVI. Yesterday, Iraqi youth celebrated their Youth Day in a spirit of union with the Holy Father and with the thousands of young people gathered in Cologne. After the celebration they sent a message to the Pope through the Apostolic Nuncio of Iraq, Msgr. Fernando Filoni, a message that the Holy Father "received with joy and emotion", reported the Press Office that published the full text of the message. "We too write the young participants in the WYD in Baghdad gathered to know the Lord and ask what He wishes of us at this difficult moment for our country and for us. We are accompanied by the exhortation of Jesus: "Be brave, be ye not afraid", that Your Holiness recently quoted at the beginning of Your Pontificate. While we express our warm greetings to the youth in Cologne, we ask Your Holiness for your apostolic blessing and express our spiritual participation in the celebrations under way in Cologne".
