TORONTO, JULY 28, 2002 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II announced officially that the next World Youth Day will be held in the German city of Cologne in 2005.
«As pilgrims, your spiritual journey to Cologne starts today. Christ awaits you there for the 20th World Youth Day!» John Paul II said at the end of the closing Mass for Toronto's edition of World Youth Day.
In general, World Youth Days are held every two years at the international level. This time, however, the Pope prefers that the meeting in Germany be preceded by three years of preparation, so that it will bear much spiritual fruit among young people.
The Holy Father described this period of preparation as «our pilgrimage of faith.»
John Paul II thanked the Church in Canada and the country's authorities for their efforts to make this WYD a success. About 800,000 people attended the closing Mass.
This afternoon the Holy Father met with the members of the WYD organizing committee to shake their hands and thank them for their work.
ZENIT - The World Seen from Rome
28. juli 2002