World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event in the world and will be held in Sydney from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 July 2008. WYD is a week-long series of events attended by the Pope and hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the globe. It has become the largest single mobilisation of young people in the world. The week culminates in a final Mass celebrated by the Pope on the last day (the actual World Youth Day). Typically, it is the largest event of the week and, overseas, has drawn millions of people.
World Youth Day is an invitation from the Pope to the youth of the world to celebrate their faith around a particular theme. The WYD08 theme, received from Pope Benedict XVI is:
'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.' Acts 1:8
This passage occurs after the death and resurrection of Jesus, just before his ascension to the Father. It represents the birth of the Church.
Key WYD 2008 Statistics
Up to 225,000 registered pilgrims are expected to take part in WYD 2008 events each day, including 125,000 international visitors.
100,000 Australian pilgrims are expected, including 40,000 from the greater Sydney area
An estimated 8,000 volunteers will assist
An estimated 2,000 clergy will be present
An estimated 700 Cardinals and Bishops will be present
Between 3,000 - 5,000 media are expected to cover the event
3.5 million meals will be served to pilgrims
100,000 will sleep in 700 schools and parishes
Up to 40,000 will be billeted as part of the HomeStay program
Approximately 20,000 will stay in Sydney hotels. The remainder will make their own arrangements.
Up to 500,000 people are expected to attend the Final Mass at Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park (which is open to all)
The four official WYD08 languages are: English, French, Italian and Spanish
WYD08 logo
The logo distils the essence of the theme for WYD08 and highlights the promise made by Jesus to set fire upon the Earth by the power of the Holy Spirit which inspires the pilgrims who come to Australia, to believe and witness to Him.
Central to the logo is the Cross raised in victory, representing Christ and the life of witness which the Holy Spirit enables. It is the passion of the heart of Christ, poured out into the world from the Cross, which consumes the young people of Sydney, of Australia and of the world. The whiteness of the Cross indicates that Jesus is the light of the world.
The flames of the logo represent the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in tongues of fire. They evoke the Sacrament of Confirmation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The colours of red, orange and yellow flowing throughout symbolise the Trinity and Unity of God. They also bring to mind the colours of the Australian outback.
The blue of the logo represents the oceans that surround Australia, the waters of Baptism, the sea of humanity and Mary, full of grace.
The Opera House is the symbol of Sydney, the host city for WYD08.
Purpose of World Youth Day
• World Youth Day was established by Pope John Paul II in 1986 as an
Annual event to reach out to the youth of the world
• Pope John Paul II was inspired by the massive gatherings of young
people in Rome for the 1984 Youth Jubilee and the 1985 United
Nations International Year of Youth. He wanted to bring together
young Catholics from around the globe to celebrate and learn about
their faith on a more regular basis.
• Pope John Paul II saw World Youth Day as a way to reach out to the
next generation of Catholics, to demonstrate confidence in them, to
rejuvenate the Church and ensure that the core teachings of Christ
are transmitted and lived.
• World Youth Day is a pilgrimage of faith, where young people from
diverse backgrounds meet and experience the love of God.
• World Youth Day is an invitation from the Pope to the youth of the
world to celebrate their faith around a particular theme. Everyone is
welcome to attend
• World Youth Day is now the largest youth event in the world
Ireland and World Youth Day 2008
Approximate numbers from Ireland for the 2008 pilgrimage:
• 800 young people mostly aged 18+ and their leaders
• 8 bishops including Cardinal Seán Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
History of World Youth Day
• The first World Youth Day was held in Rome in 1986 on Palm Sunday.
Every year since, World Youth Day has been celebrated at a Diocesan
level.
• Every two to three years, World Youth Day is taken to an international
host city. The international World Youth Days are a week-long series of
events attended by the Pope and hundreds of thousands of young
people from all over the world.
• The week culminates in a final Mass celebrated by the Pope on the last
day (the actual World Youth Day). Typically, it is the largest event of
the week and, overseas, has drawn millions of people.
• The Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) – a key Vatican body - is
responsible for World Youth Days globally
2008 World Youth Day in Sydney
• World Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08) will be held from Tuesday 15
to Sunday 20 July
• Sydney was announced as the host city for the 23rd World Youth Day
at the conclusion of the last international World Youth Day in Cologne,
Germany in August 2005
• WYD08 will be the largest event Australia has hosted. It will attract
over 125,000 international visitors – more than the 2000 Olympics
• WYD08 will mark the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to
Australia
• The Archdiocese of Sydney has established the World Youth Day Trust
to prepare for WYD08.
• The event has the strong support of the NSW and Australian
governments.
• The NSW Government has created a special agency - the World Youth
Day Coordination Authority (WYDCA) - to plan and manage the
services it will provide for the event.
• The NSW Government is responsible for providing public transport,
policing, emergency healthcare and venues
• The Australian Government is responsible for Papal security and
immigration
• WYD08 events will take place in venues across Sydney. The majority
of pilgrims will sleep at over 700 venues (classrooms and community
halls) in greater Sydney and receive morning Catechesis (or teaching)
at 300 venues near their accommodation.
• After lunch, pilgrims will make their way into the city for the major
WYD08 events and Youth Festival activities. Sydney CBD venues
include Barangaroo (East Darling Harbour), Hyde Park, The Domain,
Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour and Circular Quay.
Catholics in Australia
• Australia has approximately 5.12 million Catholics in 1,363
parishes. This is approximately 26% of the population
• Australia has 28 territorial Dioceses, four Dioceses of Eastern
Catholic Churches and one military Diocese
• There are around 1.5 million Catholics in the four dioceses across
the greater Sydney region
• The Archdiocese of Sydney has almost 600,000 Catholics in some
141 parishes with 480 priests
Australian Papal Visits
There have been three Papal visits to Australia
• 1970: Pope Paul VI
Event held in Randwick Racecourse
• 1986: Pope John Paul II
Event held in Randwick Racecourse, attracting 250,000 people
• 1995: Pope John Paul II
Event held in Randwick Racecourse. Mary MacKillop is beatified.
ENDS