The sixth in Europe

On April 15 1984, Palm Sunday, in Saint Peter’s Square in Rome, on the occasion of the Holy Year of the Redemption, a large gathering of young people took place. To them, on April 22, Easter Sunday, John Paul II entrusted the Cross. It was to be the first step of a journey that brought the Holy Father to summon the youth the following year and devote the Apostolic Letter “to the youth of the world” (March 31 1985) and to announce the establishment of the World Youth Day (December 20 1985). “How can we not give thanks to the Lord for the World Youth Days, which began in 1985 precisely in St Peter’s Square and which, following the “Holy Year Cross”, have traveled the world like a long pilgrimage towards the new millennium? How can we not praise God, for all the good fruits and Christian witness which this successful initiative has produced?” said John Paul II on Palm Sunday, March 28 1999. On March 28 2010 recurs the 25th anniversary of “this inspiration”, as defined by Benedict XVI on August 18 2005 in Cologne during the historical 20th WYD, the first after the death of John Paul II. While looking forward to celebrating the 26th edition in Madrid in 2011, we retraced with Father Eric Jacquinet, responsible of the Youth Department of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the history of the WYD, starting from the first in Buenos Aires in 1987. In fact, in 1986 the WYD was celebrated at diocesan level. A memory book was put together… 1987 – 2nd WYD. Buenos Aires, Argentina (April 11-12, 1987), “We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love towards ourselves”: “it was a very strong sign, with a strong impact of faith in a political key, which was important for a Country coming out of a dictatorship”.1989 – 4th WYD. Santiago de Compostela (15-20 August), “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”: “the most beautiful picture is that of the European youth together in pilgrimage, a significant moment of the Day”.1991 – 6th WYD. Czestochowa (August 10-15), “You have received a spirit of sonship”: “I recall it as the first major meeting between East and West European youth after the fall of the Berlin Wall, an impressive event”.1993 – 8th WYD. Denver (August 10-15), “I came that they might have life, and have it to the full”: Denver was chosen, and not a sanctuary like Compostela and Czestochowa, to represent contemporary cities, to say that God is present here too. We celebrated the feast of the Catholic faith in the streets, reiteratating the right to pray and sing in the street. The same pattern was proposed in Paris, Rome, Toronto, Cologne and Sydney, across secularized Countries. The Pope reminds the faithful not to be afraid of bearing witness and to proclaim the Gospel out loud. Be proud of your faith”.1995 – 10th WYD. Manila (January 10-15), “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you”: “this is perhaps the greatest human gathering held in a poor Country to say that the Church is present amidst the poor. Today Manila is urging African leadership to consider holding a WYD in Africa”.1997 – 12th WYD. Paris (August 19-24), “Teacher, where are you staying? Come and see”: “It was a revolution. Cardinal Lustigier was the only one to believe in the organization of the WYD when many claimed that it was impossible to bring together 1 million young people in August, when everyone is on vacation. He confided in the profound yearning for spirituality of the youth. We witnessed a change in things and in people, also in the media, who discovered that the youth take interest in what the Pope says. They were surprised by the discovery of their profound roots. Today some say the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to France in September 2008 was the product of the WYD”. 2000 – 15th WYD. Rome (August 15-20), “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”: the indelible calling to be ‘morning sentinels’: in Paris and Rome the liturgical aspect of the event was highlighted with the Via Crucis, the Saturday vigil, the Sunday Mass and Youth Festival”.2002 – 17th WYD. Toronto (July 23-28), “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world”: “It was yet another gathering in a secularized city, within secularized Country marked by plummeting numbers of faithful in parishes, where the Church was experiencing a moment of difficulty. Today we collect the fruits of those days, one of which is the Catholic television channel “Salt and Light”.2005 – 20th WYD. Cologne (August 16-21), “We have come to worship Him”: “the first of Benedict XVI in Germany, with a strong emphasis on prayer with the reference to the Magi. Eucharistic adoration was officiated for the first time in Cologne. Indeed, it wasn’t the Vatican’s initiative. Rather, it responded to the youth’s yearning for prayer. Now it is customary to expose the Eucharist Saturday night until Sunday morning, at the end of the WYD. The tent of the Holy of Holies is attended all night long”.2008- 23rd WYD. Sydney (July 15-20), “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses”: “Sydney, another city in a distant continent. Here once again I wish to highlight that the Church addresses the challenge of being present in a secularized country where Anglicanism – and not Catholicism – is the majority religion. It was a great success for Australia, and for all the countries in Oceania”.