From 15th to 17th October, Sydney will host a preparatory meeting for the World Youth Day which will take place in the Australian city in 2008 (15-20 July). The meeting, which is under the patronage of the Papal Council for Lay people and the Organising Committee of the Australian WYD, will be attended by delegates of the Youth Pastoral of many countries across the world, including the Italian one, led by the new director of the Youth Pastoral Service of the Italian Bishops Conference (Snpg), father Nicolò Anselm, who has recently replaced mgr. Paolo Giulietti. The agenda is very tight and will be opened by a welcome address by mgr. Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Papal Council for Lay People, and card. George Pell, archbishop of Sidney, who will speak at length of the meaning of the WYD for the Australian Church. In addition, news will be given of the organisational aspects of the WYD 2008, including registrations, entry visas, meals, accommodation, volunteers and transport. The delegates will be shown the WYD places, the Barangaroo, the venue of the opening Mass and the ceremony for the reception of Benedict XVI, and the race-course of Randwick, the venue of the vigil and the final Mass. The night of 16th October will be dedicated to the presentation of the dioceses of Australia and New Zealand.
