The meeting with Benedict XVI in Loreto (1st and 2nd September 20079) will also be attended by 800 delegates from 50 European and Mediterranean countries who will join their Italian counterparts in the Agora of Young Italians, the three-year youth pastoral process promoted by the Italian Bishops Conference (Cei). The presence of foreign delegates is like an invitation to exchange opinions and experiences, as well as an opportunity to establish contacts that might continue even after Loreto. The Polish group is the largest one, followed by the French, Spanish, Croatians, Hungarians, Greeks, Russians, Portuguese and Slovenians. But the flags of England, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, Holland, Austria, Switzerland and Ukraine too will fly in the plain of Montorso. The European delegations are arriving right now in the 32 host dioceses, where they will stay until 1st September when they will move to Montorso to meet the Pope. The dioceses of Emilia Romagna, Abruzzo, Marche and Umbria have already arranged accommodation and reception for them. The meeting will also be attended by a delegation of 15 young boys and girls from Australia, where the WYD will be held in Sidney from 15th to 20th July. The presence of young people from Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, the Palestinian Territories, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq is extremely significant.
