15,000 Rome youth expected at pre-World Youth Day celebration

Vatican City, Mar 15, 2005 / 22:00 pm

15,000 young people around Rome are expected to descend upon St. John Lateran Basilica tomorrow in preparation for this summer’s 20^th World Youth Day, to be held in Cologne, Germany.

The young people will gather for a traditional meeting of reflection and prayer on the Pope's Message for this World Youth Day: "We Have Come to Adore Him."

Cardinal Camillo Runi, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, will preside at the annual celebration, the schedule of which includes a talk on the Eucharist delivered by Daniel Ange, a French monk and founder of the "Jeunesse lumiere" movement.

Participants will also be treated to songs and witnesses, as well as a moment of Eucharistic adoration during which the central points of the Pope’s Message will be presented.

The Holy Father has also prepared a special letter, which will be read to the young people at the closing of Thursday’s meeting.