Pope to visit only Cologne during German trip for World Youth Day

Published: 2005-06-09

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI will make World Youth Day the exclusive focus of his four-day trip to Germany this summer, church officials said. After speculation about possible side trips to the pope's native Bavaria or to Berlin, Archbishop Renato Boccardo, a papal trip planner, said June 9 that the pope would stick to the Aug. 18-21 World Youth Day dates originally planned for Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict may take part in more activities than those designed for Pope John Paul during his four-day stay in Cologne, where the youth day celebrations will take place, the archbishop said. The definitive papal program has not yet been announced. Archbishop Boccardo, who visited Germany to meet with local church officials, said Pope Benedict would also meet with German President Horst Koehler as a sign of respect for the country's civil authorities.

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