A young pilgrim from Chorley is going to Germany to celebrate World Youth Day at a mass with the Pope.

Mark Mather, 17, from Carr Lane, is part of a 40-strong group from the Archdiocese of Liverpool, who will join more than a million young people from across the world at the celebrations in Cologne between August 15-21.

It will be Pope Benedict XVI's first visit to his home country since his election in April.

He will join the young people for a welcome celebration on August 18. He will then lead an evening vigil the following Saturday before celebrating mass on World Youth Day, Sunday August 21.

Mark, who attends St Gregory's Church in Chorley, said: "This is a great opportunity to experience something special and I'm really looking forward to it.

"It's a chance to experience another culture and be part of a massive event.

"The group I'm going with are a good bunch and I'm sure I will make a lot of new friends during the trip."

Before going to Cologne, Mark will visit the city of Trier for the ceremony of 'Days of Encounter'.

He will then travel to Neuforweiler to stay with host families, socialise with young Germans and take part in morning and evening prayer.

The Liverpool group have been planning for the pilgrimage to Cologne since September 2004.

Organiser Kirsty Macdonald, from Animate Youth Ministries, said: "I went to World Youth Day in Rome in 2000 and it was a life changing experience. So many young people all gathered together for one reason."

Mark, a former pupil of Holy Cross High School, will set off today on his two-week trip.