” “"Had the young catholics from Italy not been present, there would have been a considerable void at the World Youth Day in Cologne". These were the words said by the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, in the greeting addressed a short while ago to over 50 thousand young Italians present in the Rheinenergie Stadion in the Rhein city for the "Italian" festival promoted by the CEI young pastoral care Service. "Dear friends he added you have not come to us empty handed. You have brought us as gifts your faith towards Jesus Christ, your joy for God and the Church". Unfortunately, he added referring to Europe, "In the preamble of the European Constitution, God, the creator of all good gifts, is not included as a guarantee for a human Europe. Wherever God is not allowed to be God, there is man who transforms himself into God".
” “"I personally admire your impulse, your courage and your commitment for the Kingdom of God, for peace and justice", these were the welcoming words to the young Italians by the President of German Bishops’ Conference Cardinal Karl Lehmann: "Never doubt. Continue. You can succeed in changing the world. Be courageous: Christ is helping you because He is your friend. We are here in Cologne, in the centre of Europe. You are well aware of the difficulties which the peoples of Europe encounter in the attempted to create a true and new union. The heart of Europe is the christian faith: you should be the blood of this united, Christian, peaceful, just Europe united in solidarity".
