” “The revival of youth pilgrimages, praying in parish centres, cathedrals and monasteries, increased attendance and involvement, to such an extent that some have become reconciled with the Church by asking to be baptised: in Germany, these are the fruits of the World Youth Day that took place in Cologne in August 2005. This was told by Michael Kûhn, in charge of the National Service of the German Youth Pastoral, in an interview with SirEuropa (old.agensir.it), in the run-up to the diocesan celebration of the XXI WYD of April 9th, Palm Sunday. During Mass, celebrated by the Pope in Saint Peter’s Square, the WYD cross will be handed over by young Germans to young Australians for the Sidney meeting of 2008. The Cologne WYD, says Kûhn, left to Europe "a great testimony of the young’s faith as well as many hopes. Firstly, that the Church, driven by the young, may build bridges to connect the European peoples with each other, to shorten distances between them by rediscovering common, shared roots". The experience of the twin dioceses, for instance, has shown that "through mutual knowledge, mistrust and problems can be overcome, and long-lived relationships can be built". One of the recommendations that Kûhn would make to the organising committee of Sidney 2008 is to "cooperate together at the diocesan and national levels, commit all the country’s resources, either ecclesial or not. It’s not the event of one single diocese, but the event of a whole country.".” “
