World Youth Day at Madrid August 16-21 2011: Planted and Build Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith

• What is World Youth Day?

World Youth Day is a great meeting of young people from all over the world gathered to celebrate and learn about their faith. It is one of the primary means by which the Church proclaims the message of Christ to and expresses its concern for young people.

• When and where will the World Youth Day 2011 take place?

The upcoming World Youth Day will take place in Madrid, Spain on August 16-21, 2011.

• Who calls for and organizes World Youth Day?

The Pope. The Holy Father chooses the theme, delivers a message explaining its significance, and calls together youth from all over the world. WYD is then organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, which is the department of the Vatican to which the Holy Father has entrusted the planning of World Youth Day. In addition, there is a local Planning Committee, which works in close collaboration with the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

• How did World Youth Day begin and when?

John Paul II began WYD in 1985. Among the various celebrations dedicated to youth during the Jubilee of 1983-1984, called the Holy Year of Redemption in memory of the death of Jesus Christ 1,950 years earlier, the most important took place at the Palm Sunday Vigil in Rome. More than 300,000 young people from all over the world participated in the International Youth Jubilee, where the Pope presented them with a wooden cross.

When the UN declared 1985 the International Year of Youth, the Catholic Church organized another international event on Palm Sunday, March 31st, which gathered 350,000 youth together in St. Peter’s Square.  Following this event, the Pope instituted World Youth Day with annual cadence. Therefore, WYD was a desire and initiative of John Paul II. The event was incredibly well received, as evidenced by the massive number of youth who flocked to Rome for the international gatherings in 1984 and 1985

• How old must I to be able to attend World Youth Day?

The WYD 2011 age requirement is 14-30 years of age. Participants who are under 18 must travel with a group. The average participant is between 16 and 25 years old. Of course, young families with children under the age of 14 are welcome to attend, understanding that the World Youth Day Office cannot assume responsibility for the care of young children and cannot provide meals and accommodation. Those over 30 years of age can accompany groups as leaders and monitors.