MORE than 2000 young Australians started leaving for Germany on August 4 to celebrate their Catholic faith with Pope Benedict XVI, in what is believed to be the biggest religious pilgrimage ever to leave the nation’s shores.
The 2200 young Catholics from across the country are embarking on various pilgrimages which ultimately will take them to Cologne for the 20th World Youth Day celebrations.
A Queensland contingent of about 80 young people left on August 4 on a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St Paul through Turkey and Greece and onwards to Germany, led by Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane.
They will be joined in Cologne by about 120 other Queenslanders from August 16-21.
World Youth Day is a worldwide Catholic celebration for young people initiated by Pope John Paul II.
The highlight of the week-long festival in Cologne will be the final Mass, led by Pope Benedict.
During that Mass, the Pope will announce whether Sydney has been successful in its bid to host the next World Youth Day in 2008.
Harvest Pilgrimages spokeswoman Selina Hasham said the young people travelling to Cologne come from every state and territory in Australia and represent every Catholic diocese in the country.
Cardinal George Pell will lead a group from Sydney, and will join three archbishops, 19 bishops, about 90 priests, 15 religious and numerous lay leaders who will accompany the Australian contingent.
