Each young person attending the World Youth Day 2008, held in Sydney, must have the courage to promise the Holy Spirit to bring another young person to Christ, said Pope Benedict XVI.
In his preparatory message for the XXIII World Youth Day held in Australia, the Pontiff gave a final exhortation, encouraging the audience to follow the teaching of Jesus Christ and proclaim His message to every corner of the earth, reported Asianews.it.
"Be prepared to put your life on the line in order to enlighten the world with the truth of Christ; to respond with love to hatred and disregard for life; to proclaim the hope of the risen Christ in every corner of the earth (n. 7)", stated the papal message.
Meanwhile, the World Youth Day Cross along with the icon portraying Jesus and His Mother Mary are being carried around Australia, as preparation is being made to welcome an expected 500,000 people from all over the world.
In welcoming the cross and the icon earlier this month to Australian shores, the Prime Minister said the youth-event would be a reaffirmation of the participants' Christian faith as well as remembering the important role Christianity has played in the nation.
"The cross and the icon (are) a reminder that next year World Youth Day will be a magnificent opportunity for the young in their thousands, not only from Australia, but around the world, to reaffirm their faith and to remind the world and to remind this nation of the enduring relevance and resonance about the Christian message," he told AAP.
"It's an occasion not only for Catholics, but for all who profess the Christian faith and the Christian belief, to celebrate the marvellous message of the Christian religion and its continuing importance to our country and the life of all of its citizens."
World Youth Day 2008, the week-long event will officially start on July 15 and conclude on July 20 with the attendance of the Pope.