His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Vatican City
Most Holy Father:
As Advent leads us closer to the festivities that celebrate the manifestation of the Son of God in our midst, and which also this year mark the ending of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, on behalf of all the Bishops and faithful of Canada I wish to thank you for entrusting us earlier this year with the gift of World Youth Day 2002.
By accepting the offer of the Bishops of Canada and selecting Toronto as the site of the World Youth Day 2002 celebrations, you are letting us all share in a special way in a most remarkable project that has brought the youth of the world together and galvanized the whole Church since you instituted this celebration in 1985.
In your Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente (no. 58),you reminded us that “the future of the world and the Church belongs to the younger generation.” Indeed, new challenges, renewed enthusiasm and fresh vision are not only part of what young people and World Youth Day represent, they are at the heart of the Christmas mystery itself.
May Mary, the Mother of Our Lord, whose maternal intercession you invoked as Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother and Evangelizer of America, guide World Youth Day 2002 toward the new evangelization and that “splendid flowering of Christian life” which you signalled in your Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesiain America (11).
You can also be assured, Most Holy Father, that this expression of gratitude from the pastors and faithful of the Church in Canada for your gift of World Youth Day is also accompanied by our joyful Christmas greetings as well as our prayers for your good health and continued strength in your ministry of universal service.
Sincerely in Our Lord,
+ Gerald Wiesner, OMI
Bishop of Prince George
President
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops