Cologne World Youth Day was held on the same year that John Paul II died, 4 months before the event took place. His successor, Pope Benedict the XVI continued the journey of the youth by spearheading the event in Cologne. It was the first WYD of Benedict XVI which highlighted his arrival in Cologne via an unexpected route— the Rhine River. With all of the Pilgrims around the world lined up on both banks of the huge river, Pope Benedict enters Cologne aboard in a yacht where thousands of young people cheered and sang as the pontiff pass through the riuver, waving his hand for blessings. The young people, can’t get enough of the excitement, waddled themselves in the river and shouted “Viva Il Papa, while their are soaked in the knee high tide of Rhine. Another joyous event held in the city where legend says that the remains of the Magi from the east who all worshiped Christ on his birth, is laid in Majestic Cologne Cathedral.

THEME: “We have come to worship him” (Mt 2:2)

LOGO

1. The star symbolises divine guidance and it provides a sense of direction. It shines as the divine indication of the place in which Jesus was born. According to the Bible, it showed the wise men from the East, the Three Magi, the road they should travel to reach Jesus. After wandering for a long time, they encountered Jesus and returned home changed men. Just as it shone then on the stable in Bethlehem, today the star shines on God’s house in Cologne. The star wishes to lead the young from all over the world to Cologne for the World Youth Day. You must come here!
2. The comet’s tail represents the star’s route: it comes from above, from God. Hence, it crosses the limited horizon of our earthly world. The golden colour is a reminder of God’s heavenly light, which lights up the darkness of this world. All over the world, the comet symbolises the feast of the Nativity and the Epiphany.
3. The Cologne Cathedral represents the place in which the World Youth Day will be held. For centuries, the relics of the Three Magi have been venerated in this cathedral. The Cathedral’s red colouring unites the Church with the Cross: Christ and the Church are inseparable. It is through the Church that Christ, Crucified and Risen, is present in the history of the world. The Cathedral’s strongly stylised shape can also be considered as a symbol of other Churches in which a number of stages of the World Youth Day will take place in Germany.
4. There are various levels of meaning for the ellipse: such as the stylised letter C standing for Christ, but also for the universal communion of the Church (Communio). Furthermore, the arc represents God’s protective embrace. The sky, representing God’s mercy, embraces and saves the Church and the whole world, an idea also expressed by the arc’s blue colouring. The arc is projected towards the cross while simultaneously opening to it.
5. The Logo’s global dynamics derive from the Cross: Christians must turn to the Cross, orientate themselves towards Jesus, Crucified and Risen, in adoration, as one can read in the motto for the XX World Youth Day: “We have come to worship Him” (Mt, 2, 2).
6. The lower and supporting parts of the arc remind one of the river Rhine and of a boat: the church is like a ship, also in memory of Noah’s redeeming ark. The blue of this arc symbolises water and therefore also the water of Baptism

TRIVIA

• The largest delegation at World Youth Day this year by the event’s end are undoubtedly be the Germans, though the Italians actually led in pre-registrations with more than 100,000.

• The United States is sent an estimated 25,000 youth, accompanied by 73 American bishops and all of the American cardinals except for William Keeler of Baltimore. The U.S. bishops’ coordinator for youth and young adults, it’s the largest American delegation at a World Youth Day apart from Denver in 1993 and Toronto in 2002, both of which were in North America.

• For Americans who came for the full World Youth Day experience, the cost of a “pilgrimage package,” which includes five nights’ accommodation (in schools, gym halls, church facilities or with host families)18 meals, a travel ticket inside Germany valid for 7 days, an insurance plan, and a pilgrim’s backpack, is roughly $208 dollars. That figure does not include travel to and from the United States.

• These costs are weighted according to country of origin. Americans are numbered among the “Group A” countries, so they pay the highest price. Young people from a “Group C” country, such as Bolivia, Pakistan, or Vietnam, are paying roughly $123 for the same package.

• Participants are also asked to contribute a $10 “solidarity fee” collected by the Vatican, used to offset the costs of the event and the unmet need of impoverished participants.

• Given the number of U.S, military personnel stationed in Germany, a special program for American troops has been organized in conjunction with World Youth Day by the American military archdiocese, headed by Archbishop Edwin O’Brien.

• The catechetical sessions are arranged by language groups and can vary in size from a few hundred to over fifteen thousand participants. They include a presentation by a bishop, interaction between the bishop and the youth, music and liturgy. Other bishops who will address English speaking youth came from Great Britain, Ireland, Australia and other countries where English is spoken. Youth groups are assigned to catechetical sites by language. Among those who addressed groups from the United States are Cardinal George Pell (Australia), Cardinal Francis Arinze (a Nigerian who heads the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome), Cardinal Wilfrid Napier (South Africa), and Bishop Terrence Prendergast (Canada).

HIGHLIGHTS

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