INDAIATUBA, Brazil, May 8, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Brazil's bishops want their country to be the host for World Youth Day 2011.
The proposal to bid for the chance to host the youth day was presented to the Brazilian episocpal conference's general assembly by the youth sector of the bishops' laity commission. They approved it Sunday.
According to the conference's Web site, the president of the commission, Bishop Mauro Montagnoli of Ilheus, supported the request citing the benefits that the World Youth Days bring to host countries.
The Brazilian government, through the National Secretariat for Young People, has already expressed support for the initiative.
World Youth Day was begun by Pope John Paul II in 1986 and has already been held in Rome, Argentina, Spain, Poland, the United States, the Philippines, France, Canada and Germany.
The next one will take place in Sydney, Australia, in July 2008.
Code: ZE07050806
Date: 2007-05-08