” “"To bring to fruition that great inheritance of faith and culture which had been brought to Europe by the Apostles and which, before the challenges of today, for Italy, Germany and the whole of Europe can and should be a source of renewed trust and energy, a light which lights up the way towards the future where the human person, loved by God, may also be truly loved and respected by mankind". This was the invitation by Cardinal Camillo Ruini at the "Italian" feast under way during the WYD at the Rheinenergie stadion in Cologne with over 50 thousand present. Pausing on the WYD the Cardinale said "many ask what attracts, arouses enthusiasm and unites so many young people who are so different to each other. Some are even concerned, fear and suspect we are full of fanaticism, or livened by the will to impose ourselves on others and intimidate them, pushing forward our number and strength". However, who knows our WYD, he added, "knows it is not like that" and understand that "you young people are together guided by faith in God, who is Love, and therefore with the only intention of being friends and brothers and sisters amongst yourselves and with everybody". On the occasion of the WYD, the young Italians in Cologne sent a letter to Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, the President of the Republic of Italy. "Today they wrote we need "stars" to point us the way and encourage us to believe in our wishes and in our possibilities. For this reason we look up to the Holy Father and to you but also to all the other adults". The President in turn wrote: "Your meeting proposes a pact between the generations" and "insists on the need for a collective commitment in the name of human truth, of equality, justice and solidarity among people and nations".
