Pope to Visit Cologne

Pope John Paul II will head to the western German city of Cologne next summer to attend World Youth Day, Monsignor Renato Boccardo, in charge of organizing the pontiff's trips, said Wednesday. "The trip to Cologne is for the time being the only confirmed trip for the pope in 2005 but that does not mean that no other trips will take place," Boccardo said in outlining the program for the World Youth Day celebrations. Some 800,000 youths are expected to converge on Cologne to attend the annual event being held Aug. 16-21. Boccardo said the pope would arrive in Cologne on Aug. 18 and would attend the night vigil on Aug. 20 and preside over the closing mass the following day. The event is expected to cost €84 million ($111 million).