This past week and weekend, an Australian delegation was in Rome to receive the World Youth Day cross from the Cologne contingent, and receive the Pope’s blessing and listen to his encouraging words as they embark on a very busy two years. The logo was unveiled today:
And here are several articles from Zenit: A meeting of WYD leaders and organizers from around the world
An interview with Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, WYD coordinator:
Q: Your presentation includes a unique "three-phase approach" to the planning for the event. Could you run through these phases for us?
Bishop Fisher: The first phase is a time of evangelization, catechesis and prayer with the youth leading up to the event itself from now until July 2008.
This is a program for anyone in the world who wants to join in as a way to prepare themselves for Sydney. They can join us through an "E-pilgrimage" and receive a pack of spiritual preparation monthly that will include scriptures, prayer, the life of a saint, testimonies from young people, as well as practical information about World Youth Day in Sydney.
Phase 2 will be, of course, the great week of the World Youth Day in Sydney and the days in the dioceses around Australia before that.
For some youth, their touchdown in Australia won’t be directly in Sydney. We’ll give them the opportunity to spend some days in the diocese in other parts of the country such as Adelaide or Melbourne and then make a special journey to Sydney from there.
Phase 3 will be from 2008-2028. The third phase is the follow-up phase when the young people return home. We want to be ready to welcome them home to a Church that has its arms wide open and says that we want you to be able to learn more about your faith, to be able to pray, participate, to be able to serve and lead; to be the next generation of our Church in Australia and throughout the world!
The Pope at today’s Angleus, speaking on the WYD Cross:
The handover of the cross, after each of the world meetings, has become a "tradition," in the proper sense of a "traditio": a highly symbolic handover, which must be lived with great faith, committing oneself to a journey of conversion in Jesus’ steps.
We are taught this faith by Mary Most Holy, who was the first to believe and to bear her own cross together with the Son, experiencing with him afterwards the joy of the resurrection. This is why the WYD Cross is accompanied by the icon of the Virgin, which reproduces that of Mary "Salvation of the Roman People" ["Salus Populi Romani"], venerated in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the oldest basilica in the West dedicated to the Virgin.
After visiting several countries in Africa, to manifest the closeness of Christ and of his Mother to the peoples of that continent affected by so many sufferings, the cross and the Marian icon will be received next February in different regions of Oceania, and eventually travel to dioceses of Australia, until it reaches Sydney in July 2008. It is a spiritual pilgrimage that involves the whole Christian community, particularly young people.
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