In World Youth Day message, pope urges youth to follow Christ's light

Published: 2004-08-26

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II invited the world's young people to courageously follow the light of Christ in their lives, just as the three Wise Men embarked on a journey to seek the "king of kings." In his written message for the 2005 World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, he asked young people "from every continent to follow in the spirit of the path taken by the Magi ... and to meet, as they did, the Messiah of all nations." The Vatican released the pope's message Aug. 26 -- 12 months ahead of time -- to give young people the opportunity to prepare themselves "spiritually in an atmosphere of faith and listening to the word of God," the pope wrote. Next year's World Youth Day theme, "We Have Come To Worship Him," is taken from the Gospel account of the Magi whose relics, according to tradition, are venerated in Cologne's cathedral.

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