World Youth Day

About World Youth Day

"The World Youth Days are providential
opportunities to break our journey for a while: They 
enable young people to examine their deepest aspirations, 
to heighten their sense of belonging to the Church, 
to proclaim their common faith... to make bold and enlighten 
choices which can help steer the future course of history under 
the powerful but gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit."


                          --Pope John Paul II

Who started the World Youth Day Celebration?
Pope John Paul II.
How and when did it start?
In 1984, the Holy Year of the Redemption, the Holy Father invited the world's youth to gather in Rome for a special celebration of an International Jubilee of Youth on Palm Sunday and 300,000 young Catholics came. The following year marked the United Nations International Year of Youth and the Pope used the occasion to extend a second invitation to the young people. Again, hundreds of thousands of young people flooded the streets of Rome on Palm Sunday. The success of these events inspired the Pope to create a much larger and more powerful event to be organized by the Catholic Church, known as World Youth Day.
When and where is World Youth Day held?
Every two years at a different location somewhere in the world. In the intervening years World Youth Day is also marked by celebrations on Palm Sundays in Rome and in dioceses across the world. Since Rome, celebrations have taken place in following host cities: Buenos Aires, Santiago de Compostela, Czestochowa, Denver, Manila, Paris, back to Rome in 2000 (for the Great Jubilee) and Toronto in 2002. The next international WYD will be in Cologne, Germany 2005. For the past 19 years the World Youth Days have become the largest single, international mobilisation of young people the world has ever seen. Millions and millions of young people have been moved and touched by the modern phenomenon of John Paul II’s World Youth Days.
Themes of the World Youth Days
Each World Youth Day has had a theme. See below for the theme of each WYD and where it has been held:
- 1984 International Youth Meeting on Palm Sunday in Rome, on the occasion of the Holy Year of Redemption.
- 1985 International Youth Meeting on Palm Sunday in Rome on the occasion of International Youth Year. In December, he announces the institution of World Youth Day.
- 1986 I World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday '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)
- 1987 II World Youth Day – Buenos Aires, Argentina 'We ourselves have known and put our faith in Gods love towards ourselves.' (1 Jn 4:16)
- 1988 III World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'Do whatever he tells you.' (Jn 2:5)
- 1989 IV World Youth Day – Santiago de Compostela, Spain 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.' (Jn 14:6)
- 1990 V World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'I am the vine, you are the branches.' (Jn 15:5)
- 1991 VI World Youth Day – Czestochowa, Poland 'You have received a spirit of sonship.' (Rom 8:15)
- 1992 VII World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.' (Mk 16:15)
- 1993 VIII World Youth Day – Denver, USA 'I came that they might have life, and have it to the full.' (Jn 10:10)
- 1994 IX World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.' (Jn 20:21)
- 1995 X World Youth Day – Manila, Philippines 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.' (Jn 20:21)
- 1996 XI World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.' (Jn 6:68)
- 1997 XII World Youth Day – Paris, France 'Teacher, where are you staying? Come and see!' (cf. Jn 1:38-39)
- 1998 XIII World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.' (cf. Jn 14:26)
- 1999 XIV World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'The Father loves you.' (cf. Jn 16:27)
- 2000 XV World Youth Day – Rome, Italy 'The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.' (Jn 1:14)
- 2001 XVI World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.' (Lk 9:23)
- 2002 XVII World Youth Day – Toronto, Canada 'You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world.' (cf. Mt 5:13-14)
- 2003 XVIII World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'Behold, your mother.' (Jn 19:27)
- 2004 XIX World Youth Day – Diocesan Celebrations on Palm Sunday 'We wish to see Jesus.' (Jn 12:21)
- 2005 XX World Youth Day – Cologne, Germany 'We have come to worship Him.' (Mt 2:2)