From Boakye-Baafi, GNA Special Correspondent, Astorga, Spain

Astorga (Spain), Aug 11, GNA - The Mayor of Astorga, Ms Victorina Alonso Fernandez, on Wednesday granted audience to a group of Ghanaian catholic youth participating in this year's Catholic World Youth Day in Spain. Tens of thousands of young people from various parts of the world had gathered in the Spanish Capital, Madrid, to renew their faith and commitmen= t to the growth of the church at the six-day event (August 15 to 21, 2011) Pope Benedict would address the youth on the theme: 93Planted and Bui= lt up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith."

Ms Fernandez called on the youth of the world to be disciplined, law abiding and unite and help in the promotion of global peace. She also asked them to be responsible for their decisions and actions. Mr Edward Dampah-Yin, General Secretary of the Ghana National Youth Council, said that the Ghanaian youth would take advantage of the visit and learn best practices for national development.

He said as Christian the youth would continue to uphold the values of hard work, honesty and the good of 93our common humanity." The group also called on the Catholic Diocesan Bishop of Astorga, Monsignor Camilo Lorenzo Iglesias, who asked them to assist in the spread o= f the gospel. He advised the youth to tread the path of righteousness and help in th= e transformation of society.

Bishop Iglesias expressed worry about the increasing waywardness of th= e world's youth and said many of them were ruining their lives through the influence of devilish thinking and practices.