Four hundred youth, met in Rome for a "preceding pilgrimage" for the 15^th  World Youth Day, as representatives of all Italian dioceses. From every local churches boys and girls, in couples, are living prior to  everybody else this spiritual experience, which will be celebrated from the 15th to 20th of August. The young people, who will live this experience, will visit the places during  the Palm Sunday, where in August for the World Youth Day will take place from April 13^th  to 16^th, when they will meet the Holy Father.

“Only in this way, - says Simona Tommasi from the Diocese of Turin - Young people can make feel the presence of Christ for the other youth. the merit of the World Youth Day is that it is interested about all, open to all without any distinction. It is enough the courage to do this new extraordinary new experience."  It is a spiritual experience but is meassured by the decision and tangibile responsibility of the youth who choose to challenge themselves for the other youth. "We have felt with our own hearts, touched with hands what is going to be the World Youth day 2000", tells Michele de Sanctis, from Molfetta, we have recieved the warmth of the parishes and of the families which recieved us.

On Saturday there will be the Jubilee pilgrimage, which will start at 9 o’ clock and will finish in Saint Peter’s cathedral with the Holy Mass. At 4 pm. there will be a meeting with Francesco Rutelli, the mayor of the City and a visit to Tor Vergata, where the final events of the World Youth Day will take place. At 9 pm. there will be a concert offered by the Hope Music.

The World Youth Day", comments Mons. Domenico Sigalini, the director of the National Service for the Youth Pastoral, "is a privileged opportunity to contemplate together the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, the Son of God, and to discover which consequences derive for everyday spiritual life experience. And the youth form the various dioceses, coming in April, are already, in a sense, the symbol of youngsters from all over the world, who are on their move to Rome for the World Youth Day.