By Baghdadhope*To mark the 25th anniversary of the first World Youth Day held in Rome in 1985 and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of WYD in Tor Vergata on this afternoon the Holy Father will meet with young people from Rome and Lazio between 7.00 and 9.30 pm in San Pietro square.
Those young people, as it is a tradition, will be virtually joined by those of the Chaldean Catholic parish of Mar Qardagh in Erbil (Iraq) who after a meeting of reflection and prayers led by the parish priest, Father Rayan P. Atto, will follow the event St. Peter's Square by satellite.
"It has become a tradition for young people waiting to be in spiritual communion with the youngpeople preparing for the World Youth Day," said Father Atto to Baghdadhope.
Father, in 2008 a few young of the church of Mar Qardargh were able to attend WYD in Australia. On that time there were many bureaucratic difficulties. Are you still thinking to Madrid's WYD in 2011?
"Certainly. To be physically present at WYD and not only spiritually is a dream for all young people in the world and for the Iraqis in particular. How it was in Sydney we would like to bear witness of our faith and our devotion to the Lord who helps us in living the difficult times Iraq is passing through also in Madrid."
Will you have problems in going to Madrid?
"I really hope not. Going to Australia was not easy. In any case we are already preparing ourselves. We have informal contacts with the Spanish Committee of World Youth Day and as soon as the inscriptions of the groups begin we will ask that all documents necessary to be received and sent can pass through a European embassy in Iraq since there is no the Spanish embassy in the country."
In short, it will not be very easy ..
"As always. Life is never easy for Iraqis, but the challenges don't scare us. We will be in Madrid."