WORLD YOUTH DAY in SPAIN

25th World Youth Day to be held in Spain

Theme, “ Planted and built up in Christ, firm in faith”. (Col. 2:7)

The World Youth Day (WYD) is one of the greatest concrete expressions of the Church’s love and confidence in young people. Instituted by the late John Paul II, the “pope of the young”, after the International Youth Year of the United Nations last 1985, the WYD continues on in an annual journey of faith-reflection and largely characterized by faith deepening and celebration, and spiritual and cultural exchange. (CBCP-ECY Primer on WYD Spain)

Schedule of Activities:

Mon Aug 15: Upon arrival in Madrid, a panoramic tour of the classical and modern squares of the city will take place to the WYD accommodations.
Tue Aug 16: Collection of accreditation and backpacks with the remainder of the day free to explore the city. About 5:30 pm, Opening Liturgy in Madrid´s Cibeles Square, presided over by the archbishop of Madrid and concelebrated by the bishops and priests participating in WYD. About 9:00 pm, the first activities will be the following: Youth Festival—WYD Cultural Program begins, which include concerts ,exhibitions, displays, guided visits to Museums, plays, etc.
Wed Aug 17: Catechesis organized by linguistic groups, with bishops from all over
the world. These sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid.
Thu Aug 18: Catechesis during the day. About 5:00 pm, welcome of the Holy Father in Cibeles Square. WYD Cultural Program in the evening around 9:00 pm.
Fri Aug 19: Catechesis during the day. Youth Festival—WYD Cultural Program at 5:00 pm. At about 9:00 pm, WYD Via Crucis. Fourteen "pasos" of the Spanish Holy Week, from different points of the peninsula, go out in procession through the streets of Madrid around Cibeles Square.
Sat Aug 20: Preparatory ceremony in Cuatro Vientos 4:00 pm: Pilgrims arrive, little by little, at the Four Winds aerodrome and take their places. Meanwhile, different activities take place on the stage (testimonies of young people, musical interpretations, prayers to the Virgin, etc.), to prepare for the Vigil. At about 8:00 pm, the Pope will arrive and Eucharistic adoration will begin. We will then spend the night at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome. For those who so wish, there will be several tents for adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Sun Aug 21: In the morning, the Pope will concelebrate Mass with thousands of bishops and priests and he will address young people to send them out to the world to witness to their faith, as the Lord did with his Apostles. At the end of the conclusive Mass, the Holy Father will announce the place where the next World Youth Day will be held. The remainder of the day will be at leisure for pursuits on the individual delegates.