World Youth Day — Pope John Paul’s ‘beautiful invention’ (Video)
World Youth Day, begun in 1984 by Pope John Paul II, is a huge gathering that takes place every two to three years in which youth come together in a designated place to share their Catholic faith. It is taking place this year Aug. 1-6 in Lisbon, Portugal. Many say it is the most beautiful invention of Pope John Paul II. More than a million people — including almost 800 from the Archdiocese of Newark — are attending this year.
Michael Inguanti, a pilgrim from St. Joseph’s Church in East Rutherford, said the trip so far has been amazing — “experiencing new people, new cultures” and many graces such as “a deeply personal experience with Our Blessed Mother” after visiting Fátima.
This year’s theme
Chosen by Pope Francis — Mary arose and went with haste. (Luke 1:39) — is the theme for this World Youth Day. The biblical phrase opens the account of The Visitation, Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, a biblical episode following The Annunciation — the angel’s announcement to Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God, and the theme of the last World Youth Day, in Panama.
During their conversation of The Annunciation, the angel also tells Mary that her older cousin, thought to be sterile, is pregnant. After affirming to the angel ” Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word ” (Luke 1:38), it is then that Mary sets out for Ain Karim, a village near Jerusalem where Elizabeth lived and was awaiting the birth of John, who would become Saint John the Baptist.
Mary of Nazareth is the great figure of the Christian journey. She teaches us to say yes to God. She was the protagonist of the last edition of World Youth Day and will be so once again in Lisbon.
In the biblical episode of The Visitation, the action of standing up presents Mary as both a woman of charity and a missionary woman. Leaving in haste represents the attitude depicted in Pope Francis’ indications for World Youth Day Lisbon 2023: “May young people’s evangelization be active and missionary, for this is how they will recognize and witness the presence of the living Christ.”
One Archdiocese of Newark pilgrim, Danielle Gherardi, emphasized an eagerness to “arise and go in haste” at a Mass held in March where Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., blessed the youths.
“I have seen just how impactful friends in faith can be, both during the good times and the challenging times,” she said. “I pray that my fellow pilgrims can take a leap of faith in their spiritual journeys and follow Mary’s example to ‘arise and go in haste,’ whatever that looks like for them.”
After visiting Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Braga in Portugal, some of the pilgrims from Newark are visiting Fátima, Portugal on Thursday to take in the Marian Shrine.
“We enter into a sense of mission in Fátima. Our group will be able to experience volunteering and participate in some official events at the Shrine of Fátima,” leader Ricardo Casimiro said. “There will be moments of prayer and encounter, between each one of us and with the Virgin, our Mother.”
Inguanti said while he was at the shrine, he felt a great consolation knowing that “we can be changed to be more like Christ through the intercession of Mary Mother of God.”
Julie Suarez, a pilgrim with the St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Hillside, said one of “the major events” of her life is the “encounter with the Virgin Mary in this journey.” She hopes to share the message with her family upon her return to the States, she said.
The group will also serve in a home for the elderly and then take the sick to the Sanctuary of Fátima in order to visit Our Lady and be able to participate in the Mass there, Casimiro said.
History
In 1984, Pope John Paul II. decided to organize a gathering on Palm Sunday, in Rome, to celebrate the Youth Jubilee of the Holy Year of Redemption 1983-1984. Sixty thousand pilgrims were expected, however, 250 thousand young people from around the world attended the event.
The experience was so meaningful that Pope John Paul repeated the celebration the following year. In this gathering, 300 thousand young pilgrims were distributed among the churches of the city for moments of prayer and catechesis, followed by a full gathering in Saint Peter’s Square to participate in the celebration with the Pope. That year, John Paul II wrote an Apostolic Exhortation to the young people of the whole world, and on Dec. 20, he announced the institution of World Youth Day.
Addressing the College of Cardinals and the Roman Curia, the Pope explained the creation of WYD as follows: “All young people must feel accompanied by the Church: that is why the whole Church, in union with the Successor of Peter, feels more committed, at a worldwide level, to the youth of today, their concerns and requests, their openness and hopes, to respond to their aspirations, passing on the certainty that is Christ, the Truth that is Christ, the love that is Christ, through an appropriate development process.”
Previous themes
1986 – Rome, Italy
Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3: 15)
1987 – Buenos Aries, Argentina
We ourselves have known and put our faith in God’s love towards ourselves. (1 John 4: 16
1989 – Santiago De Compostela, Spain
I am the way, the truth, and the life. John 14: 6)
1991 – Czestochowa, Poland
You have received a spirit of sonship. Romans 8:15
1993 – Denver, U.S.
I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully. John 10:10
1995 – Manila, Philippines
As the Father sent me, so am I sending you. John 20:21
1997 – Paris, France
Master, where do you live? Come and see. John 1, 38:39
2000 – Rome, Italy
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14
2002 – Toronto, Canada
You are the salt of the earth […] you are the light of the world. Matthew 5, 13:14
2005 – Cologne, Germany
First presided over by Pope Benedict XVI.
We have come to worship Him. Matthew 2:2
2008 – Sydney, Australia
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses. Acts 1:8
2011 – Madrid, Spain
Planted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith. Colossians 2:7
2013 – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
First attended by Pope Francis.
Go and make disciples among all nations. Mattew 28:19
2016 – Krakow, Poland
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7
2019 – Panama City, Panama
Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. Luke 1:38
Featured photo: Some of the Archdiocese of Newark Pilgrams at Santiago de Compostela. (Courtesy Ricardo Casimiro)
