Hundreds of thousands of young people from 184 countries jammed into Cologne, Germany, for the Roman Catholic Church’s 20th World Youth Day, singing and praying together as they awaited the arrival today of Pope Benedict XVI.

Hundreds of thousands of young people from 184 countries jammed into the western German city of Cologne for the Roman Catholic Church’s 20th World Youth Day, singing and praying together as they awaited the arrival today of Pope Benedict XVI.

Tens of thousands of young people descended on Cologne in Germany today to kick off the 20th World Youth Day celebrations that will include German-born Pope Benedict XVI’s first foreign trip.

Hundreds of young people set off from Dublin this morning, to join an estimated one million worshippers for a special Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict in Germany.