I'm Gonna See the Pope!

Well, probably.

I have found out that I have just been ok'd to leave Tübingen early to go to World Youth Day with my host family! I'm very excited- there are going to be tons and tons and TONS of people from all over there and camping and fun and the Pope!

What this means to you: if you've got one of those bright pink things with my addresses on it, it tells you that I'm at the Tübingen address until 19 August. This is no longer the case- I'll be leaving there on the 13, so your mail will probably not reach me if you send it after about the 7 (I figure you should give it at least a week to get to me, just to be safe). So if you want to send me things after about the first week or so that I'm gone, go ahead and send them to the Niederkassel-Uckendorf address.

In case you know nothing about WYD (and why should you?), I'll quote some things from the website: "The XX World Youth Day 2005 is a pilgrimage of faith and a colourful event in every respect. People between 16 and 30 are invited. They will pour into Germany from more than 120 countries. The Pope and about 400.000 registered participants are expected. There number will almost double by the end of the event. Their will be accompanied by approximately 600 bishops and cardinals as well as by 4,000 international journalists. For ten days the eyes of the world will be on Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia and the Cologne region. The events and the guests are diverse. We will start with the Days of Encounter in the German dioceses: From August 11 until August 15 young people are guests in parishes all over Germany. Getting to know each other, exchanging ideas and thoughts, making new experiences is in the centre of attention during these days. The motto of this event is: „Guests are a blessing “. Right in the middle of this period, on August 12 2005, Germany is „under construction“: On the Day of Social Service guests and their hosts will join to begin to build a new civilisation of love and justice by taking part in numerous projects. The central events of the XX World Youth Day will begin on August 16 and will end on August 21 2005. The international guests will travel with their German hosts on Monday, August 15th into the diocese of Cologne where they will gather in either Cologne, Bonn, or Düsseldorf for the opening Mass. For three days at approximately 400 different places small groups will talk about faith and celebrate together. The Youth Festival will bring music, dance and performances from around the world to stages in Düsseldorf, Bonn and Cologne.
On Thursday the Pope will be welcomed with a big celebration in the City of Cologne. Friday is the day of the Way of the Cross, when the young pilgrims will contemplate the passion of Jesus Christ. On Saturday all pilgrims will make their way to Marienfeld (a former open-cast mine in Frechen), the venue for the major final celebrations. During the evening hours they will join the Holy Father in celebrating a Vigil. The young pilgrims will spend the night there and on Sunday morning during the final Mass, say farewell to Cologne and the XX World Youth DayJust a few moments before this big event ends the Pope will send the young people out into the world. He will then issue a next invitation: “You are invited to….'"
In case you're super-interested, here's the English website.

Gender: 59% male.