World Youth Day

Not to be confused with International Youth Day or World Festival of Youth and Students.

World Youth Day 2000 in Rome

World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, the invitation to attend extends to all youth, regardless of religious convictions. World Youth Day is not associated with International Youth Day or any of the international observance days.

World Youth Day (or in short 'WYD') was initiated by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 1985. It is celebrated diocesan level annually, and at a week-long international level every two to three years at different locations. The international level events attract hundreds of thousands of youth from almost every country on the planet. It is a major part of the upsurge in Catholic Youth Work in some countries over recent years; for example, the Director of Catholic Youth Services for England and Wales has said of the event that it would have far-reaching effects, not restricted to those who attended.

The Patron Saint of World Youth Days is Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Since his beatification, Pope John Paul II, who started the event, has become its co-patron.

Origins

Antonio María Rouco Varela speaking in a catechesis during the Pope's visit in Bavaria

In the month before the Extraordinary Synod, John Paul II took the occasion of the United Nations' International Youth Year to launch one of the signature initiatives of his pontificate-the World Youth Days that would draw millions of young people on pilgrimage to Europe, Latin America, North America, Asia, and Oceania.

The idea of the World Youth Day, the Pope remembered, could be traced back to his young friends in Srodowisko and their exploration of the personal and vocational dynamics of adolescence and young adulthood. His early papal pilgrimages, in Italy and abroad, had convinced him that a pastoral strategy of accompaniment with young people was as valid for a pope as it had been for a fledgling priest.

Srodowisko, a term suggested by Wojtyla himself in the 1960, is now used as a self-description by a group of some 200 men and women, many of them married couples with grandchildren, which first began take shape during his university Chaplaincy at St. Florian's Church in Krakow's old town, in Poland. Srodowisko does not translate easily. "Environment" is one possibility, but John Paul II prefers more humanistic "milieu." In any case, what would later come to be known as Srodowisko involved the fusing of several networks of young adults and young married couples with whom Father Wojtyla worked. The earliest of these called itself Rodzinka, or "little family." A later group of Wojtyla youngsters called themselves Paczka, "packet" or "parcel". Srodowisko saw youth groups evolve into networks of intellectual conversation. Both youngsters and intellectuals became involved in holiday excursions. The word itself maybe hard to translate, but that this network of friendships was crucial in shaping the ideas and the ministry of Karol Wojtyla the priest, later bishop, and ultimately pope, is indisputable. John Paul II marked the UN's International Youth Year and his Palm Sunday, 1985, meeting with young people in Rome with an Apostolic Letter, To the Youth of the World, which mixed reminiscence, exhortation, and the Pope's phenomenological approach to anything human in fairly equal proportions.

Traditional process

World Youth Day is commonly celebrated in a way similar to many events. The most emphasized and well known traditional theme is the unity and presence of numerous different cultures. Flags and other national declarations are displayed amongst people to show their attendance at the events and proclaim their own themes of Catholicism. Such is usually done through chants and singing of other national songs involving a Catholic theme.

Over the course of the major events taking place, national objects are traded between pilgrims. Flags, shirts, crosses, and other Catholic icons are carried amongst pilgrims which are later traded as souvenirs to other people from different countries of the world. A unity of acceptance among people is also common, with all different cultures coming together to appreciate one another.

Other largely recognized traditions include the Pope's public appearance, commencing with his arrival around the city with the 'Popemobile' and then with his final Mass held at the event. Such is the regard for the large distance of pilgrimage walks performed by the attenders of the event. The most recent festival in Sydney recorded an estimated distance of a 10 km walk as roads and other public transport systems were closed off.

Pope Benedict XVI has criticized the tendency to view WYD as a kind of rock festival ; he stressed that the event should not be considered a "variant of modern youth culture" but as the fruition of a "long exterior and interior path".

World Youth Day 2008

Main article: World Youth Day 2008

The Archdiocese of Sydney was chosen as the host of the 2008 World Youth Day celebrations. The occasion marked only the fourth Papal visit to the country - Pope Paul VI, twice by Pope John Paul II and now Pope Benedict XVI. At the time it was announced in 2005, WYD 2008 was commended by then Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, and the Archbishop of Sydney, George Cardinal Pell. World Youth Day 2008 was held in Sydney, with the Papal Mass held on the Sunday at Randwick Racecourse.

The week saw pilgrims from all continents participate in the Days in the Diocese program hosted by Catholic dioceses throughout Australia and New Zealand. The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI arrived into Sydney on Sunday 13 July 2008 at Richmond Air Force Base. Cardinal George Pell celebrated the Opening Mass at Barrangaroo (East Darling Harbour) with other activities including the re-enactment of Christ's passion during the Stations of the Cross and the Holy Father's boat cruise through Sydney Harbour. Pilgrims participated in a variety of youth festivities including visits to St Mary's Cathedral, daily Catechesis and Mass led by Bishops from all around the world, concerts, visits to the tomb of Blessed Mary MacKillop, the Vocations Expo at Darling Harbour, received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and prayed before the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration.

The event attracted 250,000 foreign visiting pilgrims to Sydney with an estimated 400,000 pilgrims attending Holy Mass celebrated by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday 20 July 2008. This is the largest single gathering of human beings at the one place in Australia's history.

Crowd at Barangaroo, Sydney, for first day of WYD08 celebrations

In May 2007, it was reported that Guy Sebastian's song Receive the Power had been chosen as official anthem for the Roman Catholic Church's XXIII World Youth Day (WYD08) to be held in Sydney in 2008. The song was co written by Guy Sebastian and Gary Pinto, and also features the vocals of Paulini. The song was released in two versions, one in English and an international version with the chorus in English and verses in Italian, Spanish and French.

Receive the Power was used extensively throughout the 6 days of World Youth Day in July 2008, and also in the television coverage which went around the world.Guy Sebastian performed at the concert after the Opening Mass which officially welcomed the Pope to Australia. The Mass and concert at Barangaroo, Sydney had an estimated crowd of 150,000. Guy Sebastian and Paulini also performed both the English and International versions at the Final Mass at Randwick Race Course on the 20th Of July. An estimated 400,000 people attended the Mass. Guy Sebastian and Paulini were invited to perform Receive the Power LIVE at the Pope's Farewell and thank you to volunteers on 21 July.

In November 2008, a 200 page book named "Receive The Power" was launched to commemorate World Youth Day 2008. Guy Sebastian was invited to attend, along with Paulini and TV journalist Ray Martin. All 3 were presented with copies of the book by Cardinal Pell, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, to thank them for their involvement in World Youth Day.

World Youth Day 2011

Main article: World Youth Day 2011

Following the celebration of Holy Mass at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on 20 July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI announced that the next International World Youth Day 2011 would be held in Madrid, Spain. It will be held from August 16-21, 2011.

Chronology of celebrations

International

Year	Date	Host	Attendance	Theme	Anthem	Mass
							1984	April 15	Rome, Vatican City	300,000	Holy Year of the Redemption: A Festival of Hope	Resta Qui Con Noi [Italian]	Holy Mass held at Piazza San Pietro Pope John Paul II entrusts the WYD Cross to the Youth
1985	March 31	Rome, Vatican City	300,000	International Youth Year		Holy Mass held at Piazza San Pietro
1987	April 11–12	Buenos Aires, Argentina	1,000,000	We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love towards ourselves (1 Jn 4:16)	Un Nuevo Sol [Spanish]	First WYD outside Europe
1989	August 15–20	Santiago de Compostela, Spain	400,000	I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn 14:6)	Somos Los Jóvenes [Spanish]	Final Mass held at Monte do Gozo
1991	15	Częstochowa, Poland	1,600,000	You have received a spirit of sonship (Rom 8:15)	Abba Ojcze [Polish Italian Spanish]
1993	August 10–15	Denver, United States	500,000	I came that they might have life, and have it to the full (Jn 10:10)	(We Are) One Body [English]	Final Mass held at Cherry Creek State Park First WYD in North America
1995	January 10–15	Manila, Philippines	5,000,000	As the Father sent me, so am I sending you (Jn 20:21)	Tell the World of His Love [English]	Final Mass held at Luneta Park Current world record for the largest Papal gathering First WYD in Asia
1997	August 19–24	Paris, France	1,200,000	Teacher, where are you staying? Come and see (cf. Jn 1:38-39)	Maître Et Seigneur [French]	Final Mass held at Longchamp Racecourse
2000	August 15–20	Rome, Vatican City	2,000,000	The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14)	Emmanuel [Italian English French Spanish]	Final Mass held at Tor Vergata Held on the occasion of the Great Jubilee
2002	July 23–28	Toronto, Canada	800,000	You are the salt of the earth ... you are the light of the world (Mt 5:13-14)	Lumière Du Monde/Light Of The World [French English Spanish Italian]	Final Mass held at Downsview Park Last WYD attended by Pope John Paul II First WYD in Canada
2005	August 16–21	Cologne, Germany	1,200,000	We have come to worship Him (Mt 2:2)	Venimus Adorare Eum [German Latin French Spanish English Italian]	Final Mass held at Marienfeld First WYD attended by Pope Benedict XVI
2008	July 15–20	Sydney, Australia	400,000	You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses. (Ac 1:8)	Receive The Power [English Italian Spanish French]	Final Mass held at Randwick Racecourse First WYD in Oceania and Second Time in Southern Hemisphere
2011	August 16–21	Madrid, Spain	TBD	Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith (Col 2:7)	Firmes en la Fe [Spanish English French Italian German Polish]	Spain becomes the first country (outside the Vatican/Italy) to host WYD twice
2014	TBD	Lisboa, Portugal	TBD	TBD	This Is My Life [Portuguese English Latin Celtic Greek Mirandese Spanish Italian German French Arabic]	Lisboa is a first city of Portugal of WYD Final Mass held to Estádio da Luz

¹Attendance numbers reflect the total number at the closing Mass which includes many locals who attended only that one event. Unless otherwise referenced, the numbers are quoted from the USCCB website. ²This lists languages used in the main international version of the anthem. Local versions of the anthem in other languages (and alternate versions) may have also been produced.

Diocesan

Diocesan level celebrations (celebrated on Palm Sunday each year)

Date	Theme
March 23, 1986	Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you. (1 Pt 3:15)
March 27, 1988	Do whatever he tells you. (Jn 2:5)
April 8, 1990	I am the vine, you are the branches. (Jn 15:5)
April 12, 1992	Go into all the world and preach the Gospel. (Mk 16:15)
March 27, 1994	As the Father sent me, so am I sending you. (Jn 20: 21)
March 31, 1996	Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (Jn 6:68)
April 5, 1998	The Holy Spirit will teach you all things. (cf. Jn 14:26 )
March 28, 1999	The Father loves you. (cf. Jn 16:27)
April 8, 2001	If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Lk 9:23)
April 13, 2003	Behold, your mother! (Jn 19:27)
April 4, 2004	We wish to see Jesus. (Jn 12:21)
April 9, 2006	Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path. (Ps 119:105)
April 1, 2007	Just as I have loved you; you also should love one another. (Jn 13:34)
April 5, 2009	We have set our hope on the Living God. (1 Tim 4:10)
March 28, 2010	Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (Mk 10:17)

Typical schedule of events

International Level

WORLD YOUTH DAY - Overview of Week

	Up to week before	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN
MORNING	Days in the Dioceses: Catechetical Sessions around host and nearby dioceses	Day of official arrival and welcome for pilgrims	Catechetical Session with participating Bishops			Walking pilgrimage to Vigil Site	Closing ceremonies: Morning prayers are led by participating bishops Holy Mass is celebrated by the Pope The next host diocese is announced by the Pope after Mass
AFTERNOON		Opening ceremonies Holy Mass is celebrated by the local ordinary of the host diocese	Afternoon shows, music, prayer and reconciliation opportunities	The Pope officially arrives at WYD and delivers his welcome address at a prayer service	Afternoon shows, music, prayer and reconciliation opportunities	Afternoon shows, music, prayer and reconciliation opportunities at Vigil Site
EVENING		Evening shows, music, prayer and reconciliation opportunities			Stations of the Cross	Evening Vigil with the Pope

Diocesan Level

Events at Diocese-level celebrations are decided by a local team usually appointed by the Ordinary.

Since these celebrations usually occur during Palm Sunday, it almost always will include the Holy Mass of Passion Sunday - where Jesus' entry to Jerusalem in his final days is commemorated.

Music, prayer, reconciliation opportunities, as well as adoration of the Blessed Sacrament may also be part of the celebrations.

See also

• International Youth Day
• International Youth Year
• Youth 2000

External links

• Official website of World Youth Day
• WYD 2011 official website
• The website for World Youth Day 2008, Australia
• WYD page from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' website
• World Youth Day Photo Slideshows, Themesongs and Small Movie (English/Dutch/German)
• In pictures: Pope ends Australia trip
• World Youth Day information