L.A. Man to Greet Pope at World Youth Day

Martin Hicks, a 25-year-old Los Angeles man, has been chosen to greet Pope John Paul II when the pontiff arrives in Denver next month for World Youth Day.

“It’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Hicks, who works for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Hicks will be one of two people to welcome the Pope on his arrival Aug. 12 at Mile High Stadium. Hicks will greet the pontiff on behalf of at least 100,000 youths and young adults from 70 nations who are expected to attend the weeklong event.

“Being selected for such an honor is beyond my dreams. I’m just overjoyed to even have been considered,” Hicks said.

“I have an idea of what I would like to express to him--gratitude for taking the time out to spend with the young people of the world, especially during this time of wars in foreign lands,” Hicks said.

Born in Los Angeles, Hicks attended Catholic schools. He graduated from Cal State L.A. with a degree in social work. He is a benefits specialist in the archdiocese’s insurance office.

In 1992, he was a delegate to the Black Catholic Congress. He also has been active in the food bank operated by his parish, St. Cecilia in South-Central Los Angeles, and has been a volunteer with the African-American Vicariate and Vocation Department of the archdiocese.

World Youth Day VIII, to be held Aug. 11-15, is unprecedented in scope in the United States. The Pope launched the celebrations in 1984, when thousands of young people were in Rome to close the Holy Year of Reconciliation.