What if you had the opportunity to come together with young people from all over the world to sing, praise, share faith together…and see the Pope? World Youth Day (WYD) is an energetic global celebration created specifically for Catholic young people from around the world. It offers young Catholics from every background and culture the chance to encounter each other and truly experience the universality of their Catholic faith.
Want to know more about this global event? Read on.
When Does It Happen?
World Youth Day is held approximately every three years in a different country with a different Biblical theme each time. The next WYD will be held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027, with the theme “Take courage! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
Who Can Attend?
If you’re between the ages of 16 and 35 years old, WYD was primarily created to support and inspire you! At the same time, many bishops, priests, and nuns also attend the festivities, as well as people of all ages who are parents, chaperones, pilgrimage leaders, tour organizers, or just individuals who are inspired by the bright future they see in the hearts of the young. So in a way, World Youth Day is for everyone.
How Was It Started?
When more than 300,000 young people turned up for the International Jubilee of Youth celebration on Palm Sunday in 1984, Pope John Paul II decided it was time to give the young faithful a recurring chance to connect at a global level. He also knew it was time for the Church to re-commit herself to the youth of the world, who hold such faith and potential. Thus the very first World Youth Day was held on Palm Sunday in 1986.
Although World Youth Day is celebrated internationally every few years, Pope John Paul II invited all dioceses to celebrate WYD annually in their own way on Palm Sunday, keeping the spirit alive between the global events.
Check out our post here for what happens during World Youth Day!
Why Does World Youth Day Matter?
World Youth Day is an incredible opportunity for young people to deepen their faith, share hope, prayerfully journey on pilgrimage, and immerse themselves in the true universality of the Church. What better way for young Catholics to be reminded that the Church loves them and believes in them? And that God loves them and believes in them? Even if you aren’t a young person, you can be inspired by WYD to look to the future with hope.
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the wonder of Seoul for yourself, connect with youth from around the globe, and see the Pope!
Interested in taking a group? Reach out!
Want to join other young adults? Check out our open enrollment trip!
