What is World Youth Day?

Just to give a little background–World Youth Day was my first hardcore pilgrimage experience. Ya know, visiting places as an act of religious devotion, and encountering God through sacred sites, seeing the universal Church, and rejoicing in it all. And World Youth Day very much comprises all those things!

I’ve been to two World Youth Days: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013 and Krakow, Poland in 2016. I’ve also been to a few local-level World Youth Days.

Jason over at Light & Heavy led the major pilgrimages to Rio and Krakow. I’ve mentioned before on the blog that I have him to thank that I got introduced to pilgrimages! And again, Jason and I know each other from our home parish and being involved in youth ministry in various capacities.

The way we approached the World Youth Days in Rio and Krakow was to go through a pilgrimage company associated with World Youth Day. With a pilgrimage company that specializes in World Youth Day, we were able to arrange solid itineraries and tours. I know a lot of my pilgrimage reports involve me striking out on my own and doing everything myself, but the World Youth Days were definitely not the case!

With that said, let’s get to it. What is this World Youth Day that I keep talking about?

What is World Youth Day?

From the outside looking in, World Youth Day looks like just a massive (or should I say Mass-ive???) gathering of youth with the Pope.

And that’s a partial, yet true, understanding.

World Youth Day got started because of Pope John Paul II. After many youth gathering in Rome responded to his invitation for the International Jubilee of Youth in 1984, he entrusted to them the notion of World Youth Day.

Pope John Paul II invited the youth again in 1985, coinciding with the UN’s Year of the Youth. He officially instituted World Youth Day, and in the following year, the first official World Youth Day was held in Rome, and the first international World Youth Day was held in 1987 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Each year, dioceses around the world can host their own local World Youth Day.

But every few years, typically 2 to 3, a diocese somewhere in the world will host the large international World Youth Day.

Here’s a good explanation of what World Youth Day is:

[World Youth Day] is open to all young people who want to take part in a festive encounter with their contemporaries centered on Jesus Christ. This event is an opportunity to experience in first person the universality of the Church; to share with the whole world the hope of many young people who want to commit themselves to Christ and others. World Youth Day is a unique way to deepen your faith and grow closer to Christ, by means of prayer and the sacraments, together with thousands of other young people who share your interests and ambitions.

Quoted from WorldYouthDay.com

I think that’s a good summary, but I would just further qualify it by saying that millions of others show up. Not thousands, haha!

Here are the past and upcoming World Youth Days:

Year	Location
1986	Rome, Italy
1987	Buenos Aires, Argentina
1989	Santiago de Compostela, Spain
1991	Czestochowa, Poland
1993	Denver, CO USA
1995	Manila, Philippines
1997	Paris, France
2000	Rome, Italy
2002	Toronto, Canada
2005	Cologne, Germany
2008	Sydney, Australia
2011	Madrid, Spain
2013	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2016	Krakow, Poland
2019	Panama City, Panama
????	?????

Each World Youth Day also has a theme that is always a line from Scripture. The theme serves as a point of reflection, and the Pope’s talks and reflections for the youth surround the theme.

Is there an age limit for World Youth Day?

Nope!

While it is geared towards young people, typically ages 15-35, World Youth Day is open to all ages.

As an example, while walking around Rio De Janeiro in 2013, the first group of Filipinos I encountered were from Libya (?!?!), and all of them could have easily been my parents’ age.

A lot of young adults go, and families as well.

So don’t worry if you feel “too old” to go to World Youth Day–I assure you that you’re never too old!

What happens at World Youth Day?

Now here’s another counterintuitive point, much like how World Youth Day doesn’t mean it’s just for youth.

It’s not just a day of stuff. World Youth Day is more like World Youth Week.

Typically, especially in recent ones, the schedule involves many events and activities.

Due to circumstances, I’ve not been able to attend some of the major events and activities below.

Scattered throughout the week-long schedule are:

• Shows
• Music performances
• Pilgrimage site tours
• Church tours
• Opportunities for prayer
• Opportunities for repentance and reconciliation

But the major events of World Youth Day are:

Days In The Diocese

A week before the events of World Youth Day, the host diocese opens up churches and homes for pilgrims. Pilgrims immerse themselves in the local community through meals, worship, and culture.

I’ve never been, but I know it’s an option to participate in.

Catechetical sessions

Participating bishops will offer catechesis sessions on matters of the faith. Part of the duty and responsibility of a bishop is to teach the flock.

In these catechesis sessions, the faithful can learn deeper aspects of the Christian faith in order to better understand God, the Church, and how to share the Good News with all.

During the week, catechesis sessions can be found all over the host city according to language. A World Youth Day pilgrim would just need to find the session in their native language in order to participate.

For World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, my group attended a catechetical session hosted by an Australian bishop at a church that was a 15 minute walk from our hostel. Because English. And because convenient.

Official welcoming of pilgrims and opening ceremonies

At the start of World Youth Day, the bishop of the host city will will celebrate an opening Mass and welcome pilgrims.

This event is usually where you to start to really see the whole world represented by the pilgrims present.

In 2013 in Rio, we had opening ceremonies at Copacabana Beach. And in 2016 at Krakow, we were in Blonia Park. Understand that you need wide, open spaces to host hundreds of thousands of people!

Papal welcome

The Pope typically arrives early or mid-week, but after the opening ceremony. This event bring everyone together again to hear the Pope deliver his welcome address and him lead a prayer service.

The papal welcome is usually held in the same place as the opening ceremony.

Walking pilgrimage

The last events of World Youth Day are usually held in an even larger space, and often several miles away.

In order to attend the last events, pilgrims go on a walking pilgrimage and are prepared to stay the night outside.

I think this is the part that really gets you to feel like a real pilgrim since it involves a lot of walking, discomfort, smelling bad, but also joy and hope because of the end goal. The fruit of having this walking pilgrimage is that it’s analogous to our life in Christ.

I heard that back in 2011 in Madrid, it was raining. In 2013, it had been raining terribly in Rio and the original site of the closing events flooded so everything got moved to Copacabana Beach. For 2016 in Poland, it was dreadfully hot and multiple paths to the site were bottlenecked with pilgrims resulting in standing around in the heat with thousands of others.

But who cares! Because…everyone is looking forward to the…

Evening Vigil

The Pope hosts an evening of prayer at the final site for World Youth Day on the evening before the last day.

By this point in time, most everyone who is attending World Youth Day will be present.

The Evening Vigil includes our familiar devotions like the Rosary, the Divine Mercy chaplet, reflections, praise and worship, and other spiritually edifying things.

But the high point of the Evening Vigil is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Pope leads Eucharistic Adoration where everyone gathered can adore Christ truly present in the Eucharist–body, blood, soul, and divinity.

Truly powerful stuff.

I. Will. Never. Forget. 2013 in Rio. Why because this part was soooooo awesome! If you can imagine, 2 million people at Copacabana Beach adoring Christ! And even more amazing was Matt Maher performing his then-new song, Lord I Need You, kneeling in front of the monstrance singing to Christ Himself. With all of us, too.

If you can imagine all of Copacabana Beach filled to the brim with people, and 13 jumbotrons spread every so often along the beach, this was the video playing on those screens during Matt Maher’s song during Adoration:

Amazing, truly amazing. I’m not crying–you’re crying!

After Adoration, I’m not so sure what exactly happens (and that’s a different blog post or two), but I know pilgrims prepare to stay overnight in order to be present for the closing ceremonies the next morning.

Closing ceremonies and Mass

Here, everyone joins the Pope for Morning Prayers and the Closing Mass.

Attending church with millions of others, outside, must be quite the experience!

Apart from Mass, everyone looks forward to the closing remarks where the Pope announces when and where the next World Youth Day will be.

How is World Youth Day a pilgrimage?

World Youth Days, again, are primarily to help the faithful encounter Christ through visiting sacred sites, worshipping en masse (in Mass!), and to rejoice in all that.

Going to World Youth Day involves sacrifice and reflection because of the travel discomforts and opportunities for prayer.

So much walking, being exposed to the elements, going from churches/shrines/chapels to the next one, going to Mass, venerating relics–the list goes on, but World Youth Day can most definitely be a pilgrimage.

Bottom Line

World Youth Day is a fantastic way to go on a pilgrimage with its many different events and opportunities.

At World Youth Day, a pilgrim can encounter the universal Church, and together with the Church, encounter Christ.

You get to meet so many people from all over the world with the same desire to grow their relationship with Christ, and that’s really, really cool.

For you, the pilgrim, World Youth Day should definitely be on your bucket list!

Have any questions regarding World Youth Day? Let me know in the comments!

Reference

WorldYouthDay.com