World Youth Day

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World Youth Day is the largest youth event in the world and will be held in Sydney 15-20 July 2008 (WYD08) when up to 500,000 young people will meet with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Around 2,000 young pilgrims and up to 20 Bishops will travel from England and Wales to Australia this summer for a mixture of a pilgrimage, a cultural youth festival and a prayer rally. In size and scale 'WYD' is a major international youth event that, on major celebration days, far exceeds the Olympic Games for Sydney.

Young people who have been to previous World Youth Days have spoken of how the event has renewed their faith and has been an amazing experience of the international Church, "I had a very powerful and prayerful time at World Youth Day in Cologne. Travelling on pilgrimage with the Diocese of Westminster, we developed a strong sense of community, and we all grew in our spiritual lives together through our shared experiences. Being able to attend Mass, celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI, along with one million other young Catholics was truly inspiring. It has strengthened my faith, and deepened my prayer-life. I am very much looking forward to travelling to the next World Youth Day in Sydney this summer, and would encourage all young people to come and take part” Daniel, London.

WYD attracts pilgrims from some 200 nations (along with thousands of international journalists). WYD08 will also mark the first visit to Australia by Pope Benedict XVI. ‘World Youth Day’ is actually a week of events, culminating in a Final Mass celebrated by the Holy Father. The young people travelling Down Under will have an opportunity to rediscover the calling of their Baptism, and the importance of the Mass and of the sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), and so discover a renewed desire to witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ in the modern world. They will have a chance to make new friends, learn about Australian culture, and experience the Catholic Church in Australia. The WYD08 theme is: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses' The Bible, Acts 1:8.

• “Today too there is a need for disciples of Christ who give unstintingly of their time and energy to serve the Gospel. There is a need for young people who will allow God’s love to burn within them and who will respond generously to his urgent call, just as many young blesseds and saints did in the past and also in more recent times. In particular, I assure you that the Spirit of Jesus today is inviting you young people to be bearers of the good news of Jesus to your contemporaries." Pope Benedict XVI, Message for WYD08
• “It’s the Pope’s first visit to Australia. His visit will be a blessing to the country in a very significant way. Australia has a great appeal - so many young people from England and Wales go to Australia to work there for a while. It is important that young people from England and Wales should support World Youth Day particularly when it is an English speaking country…. We have over 2000 going from this country. Each morning for three days, I meet a large group of about 1000, perhaps more young people from all over the world. I have to give catechesis sessions. I will be talking with them for 20 to 30 minutes and exchanging with them. To meet the young people not just from our own country, but especially from other countries – that will be for me the best part of the trip." Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

Click on the links below or to the left to read more, there are sections for UK Media and for young pilgrims travelling to WYD08.

Whilst we've taken the utmost care in sourcing the links on these pages, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales cannot be held responsible for the content on external sites. Unless otherwise stated, all images Copyright © WYD08, WYD Logo © Copyright and ™ WYD 2008 used courtesy of WYD2008.