Manila (AsiaNews) - "You young people are the hope of the Church in Asia. Share your faith in Jesus with others, with courage and conviction. " With these words Mgr. Orlando Quevedo, Archbishop of Cotabato, ended in Cavite (Manila), the Fifth Asian Youth Day (AYD). Over 2000 young people from 22 Asian countries, attended the meeting started on 20 November with the slogan "Yasia Fiesta”. The next AYD will be organized in 2012 in Seoul (South Korea).
"The hope of this event was to give a new perspective to young people across Asia - said Fr Conrad Amon AYD spokesman - that their lives be filled with the Word of God and the Body of Christ. " "In this way - continues the priest - young people will be able to face the reality of the world and the difficult situations experienced in their countries."
Through catechism lessons, testimonies, youth pilgrimages the AYD fully comprehends its role and duty to Christians within the various Asian realities that often lack religious freedom. "At the meeting – says Marlon Vargas, a 28 year old Filipino - I had the opportunity to talk with young people from other countries on the continent and know how they live and bear witness to the faith despite religious and cultural differences present in their society."
Organized for the first time in 1999 in Thailand, AYD is held every three years and develops over three days of meetings of spiritual and cultural reflection. The last meeting was in 2006 in Hong Kong.