A VATICAN official has criticised Australia and other countries for publicising their intention to bid for the right to host World Youth Day in 2007.
The official from the Pontifical Council for the Laity – the Vatican office in charge of overseeing World Youth Day events – was not pleased after he became aware of early publicity of countries’ intentions to host the Church’s major youth celebration.
Reports also circulated that the bishops of South Africa and Bolivia wanted their countries to be considered as the venue for World Youth Day 2007.
The head of the Pontifical Council for the Laity’s youth section, Fr Francis Kohn, said that with preparations still under way for the World Youth Day event in Germany, it was inappropriate to be announcing intentions to host the 2007 event.
He said it was the responsibility of the Vatican to announce who would be the candidate for hosting the next round of World Youth Day events. |
Director of communications for Sydney archdiocese, Marita Franklin, said there was still much left to do in writing up the proposal.
She said the request probably would be sent to the Pontifical Council for the Laity no sooner than June.
(CNS)
