This weekend sees the celebration of World Youth Day in Cologne, in Germany.

About a million people will be gathered there from around the whole world.

This wonderful gathering of young men and women, who are looking for the deeper meanings in life, came about because the late, Pope John Paul II, believed in the goodness of young people and was not afraid to tell them so.

He spoke to their idealism and told them that the Church and the world need them to build a better future for humanity.

We must all keep this message of faith and hope alive in the hearts and minds of the young.

To believe in themselves, they must know that someone else believes in them.

Jesus believes in their goodness, and so do we.

God’s peace be with you.

I am Archbishop Barry Hickey.