” “"We are at the dawn of an extraordinary event. The German Church has arrived there ready, well prepared and fully aware. For three years we have been waiting for this time". Father Michael Khün, in charge of the young pastoral of the German Bishop Conference, is excited as the date of August 16th is drawing nearer, the day Cologne will be invaded by hundreds of thousands of young people, many of whom have been celebrating twinships with German dioceses since August 11th, for the official opening of the XX World Youth Day. "Resuming the words of John Paul II, who, in his message for the Day, invited people to prepare themselves spiritually stated Khün we wanted to focus all the preparation on the Cross. The pilgrims’ walk from Dresden to Cologne with the WYD Cross is in progress. The welcome that the population, including Protestants, are giving it is unbelievable. The Cross is the symbol of this WYD, and its impact on the German country is really impressive. There is not one single diocese or parish church that has not fallen in with this great experience of faith. An asset that must not be lost for the future".
