EWTN To Carry World Youth Day Event Live From Sydney, Australia

Pope Benedict XVI to Participate in WYD08

Irondale, AL (EWTN) EWTN Global Catholic Network will provide live comprehensive coverage of the events of World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08), including celebrations with Pope Benedict XVI, in Sydney, Australia from July 15th through the 20th. Since its inception by the late Pope John Paul II in 1986, World Youth Day has grown to become the largest gathering of young people in the world.

Approximately 225,000 registrants are expected to take part in WYD08, including 125,000 international visitors (more than the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney), 2,000 clergy, and 700 Bishops and Cardinals. Organizers expect the closing Mass with Pope Benedict to attract more than 500,000 people.

EWTN’s coverage will originate from WYD078 venues in Sydney and will feature Father Mark Mary Cristina, MFVA, host of Life on the Rock, the Network’s weekly live call-in show for youth, along with his team of Franciscan friars. He will be joined in studio by Life on the Rock co-host Doug Barry.

In addition, Spanish coverage will be provided on the Network’s U.S. Spanish-language channel EWTN Español and on the Network’s international Spanish-language service, EWTN El Canal Católico.

Coverage will begin on July 15 and conclude on July 20.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 27th year, is available in nearly 150 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN, is the largest religious media network in the world.