The European meeting of young people led by the Taizé Community kicks off today in Turin. Boys and girls are expected to arrive from Italy and all over Europe, but also from Egypt, Indonesia and the United States. In the press conference this morning the presentation of the events that will go on until July 10 and which will see the culmination on Saturday 9 with the “White Night of Faith”
Vatican News
The second stage of the 44th European meeting of young people aged 18 to 35, promoted by the Taizé Community, begins today in the Piedmontese capital. It follows the appointment that also took place in Turin at the end of last year, but which, due to the pandemic, had seen the participation of young people from the Italian diocese and only in virtual mode of girls and boys from other European countries . This morning, in the Sala Colonne of Palazzo Civico, the press conference for the presentation of the scheduled events in the next few days, many of which will be organized by the Carlo Acutis Foundation. Among these, one of the workshops and the exhibition “Faces in the Face”, art history spirituality, which the archbishop of the Turin diocese, Monsignor Roberto Repole, will inaugurate tonight at 6.30 pm.
Arrivals today also from Ukraine and Russia
One hundred and fifty young volunteers from abroad who will join the local volunteers to welcome the participants arriving during the day from all over Europe, including from Ukraine and Russia, Egypt, Indonesia and the United States. Families and local oratories will give them hospitality. At 9 pm the first great “Evening Prayer”, at the church of San Filippo Neri.
The prayer, together with various group activities, will continue the next morning, Friday 8 July, in the parish communities and, at 12.30, will see a moment in common for the “Midday Prayer”. In the early afternoon the workshops on cultural, artistic, social and spiritual themes will start. Visits to significant places in the city are planned. The day will end again with an appointment that will bring together all the participants for the “Evening Prayer”.
On Saturday evening the visit to the Chapel of the Shroud
Saturday 9 July the most intense and richest day of proposals. The program is similar to that of the previous day, but in addition, at 7 pm, the “White Night of Faith” will start, with the “Festival of Peoples” at the Court of the Royal Palace, with music, dances, testimonies and aperitif. Following the last great “Evening Prayer”, again led by Monsignor Repole, and from 10.30 pm, gathered in groups, the participants will leave for the spiritual and artistic itineraries in the city center, including the one directed to the Chapel of the Shroud open in extraordinary way for this occasion to young people.
An exhibition dedicated to the young blessed Frassati
The conclusion of the meeting, Sunday 10, will have a familiar character, with Mass in the parishes and lunch in the host families before departures for the return journey.
In addition to the three round tables scheduled on the themes: “Piedmont to discover”, “Young people and the Shroud” and “Young people … and saints!”, An exhibition dedicated to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati will be open for the entire duration of the European meeting. , Turin, and the participants will be able to go to the Cathedral to pray in the chapel that houses his remains.