Entrusts Australia Meeting to Mary
LORETO, Italy, SEPT. 2, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI twice reminded youth of his next appointment with them: World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia.The Pope was in Loreto on Saturday and today in an encounter with young people, part of the Italian bishops' three-year plan to focus on youth ministry in their dioceses.
On two occasions during his meetings with the young people, the Holy Father recalled his appointment with them in Sydney.
During the prayer vigil Saturday evening on the outskirts of Loreto -- where the Italian national Marian shrine is located -- the Pontiff spoke of his dream of being present at the World Youth Day.
"I would like to make an appointment with you young people in Sydney, where a year from now the next World Youth Day will be held,” he said.
Distance
"I know, Australia is a long ways from here, and for Italian youth it is literally the other side of the world,” Benedict XVI noted. “Let us pray that the Lord, who works every wonder, grant to many of you the chance to be there.
"May he grant it to me, may he grant it to you. This is one of our many dreams that, praying this night together, we entrust to Mary.”
The Pope again spoke of the appointment during the Mass he celebrated for the young people today.
He said: "I invite you to prepare yourselves for this great manifestation of youthful faith, meditating on the message that treats the theme of the Holy Spirit, to live together a new springtime of the Spirit."
The message that the Pope has written to young people to prepare for the meeting is dedicated to the Holy Spirit.
A delegation of young people from Australia came to the gathering in Loreto to invite the participants to their country next year and to learn from the organization of the Italian meeting.