"At the end of a journey which spiritually began many months ago, we have now reached the climax. This is why I hope the WYD, which with the twinship days is just making its first steps, may really fulfil the need of friendship, of experiencing emotions, of shedding light over the life of every young man who partakes of the light of the encounter with Christ". This is the wish of father Paolo Giulietti, responsible for the National Service for the Youth Pastoral at Cei (Italian Bishops Conference) at the dawn of the XX World Youth Day in Cologne. An event in which young Italians, over 100 thousand, the second largest groups after Germans, "play on their home ground". "We arrive in Cologne with a well-received background said Giulietti to Sir as John Paul II had recommended in his message. And, from what we have seen over the last few years, the conditions for the WYD to be even more fruitful for the Italian Church are all there". "It will be important to handle the after-Cologne time as well. The Italian Church is expected to go to Verona next year for the ecclesial meeting, an important step of the journey of fait of our youth. We will start again concluded Giulietti from those three guiding principles that have marked our journey to Cologne: the leading role of young people in the Church, the spirituality and the Christian testimony for the development of a civilisation of love. Protagonists, worshippers and developers are the words, for young people to Verona".
