World Youth Day - a name that suggests something more like a rock festival; is a festival, but a spiritual one. It is an event organized by the Catholic Church for young people. Initiated in 1984 by Pope John Paul II and made official in 1986, WYD is celebrated annually every Palm Sunday (the sunday before Easter) by the bishops across the world in their dioceses (a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church). Pope John Paul II started this event with a view to bring youth from multiple cultures and countries together to meet Christ and learn from the bearers of Gospel. The Pope established this movement as a symbol of love of Christ for humanity. 

The various traditions of WYD include exchange of the Youth Cross (also called Pilgrim/Jubilee/WYD Cross). Since 1984, the Youth Cross has been carried from parish to parish, country to country depicting that only in the death and resurrection of Christ can we find salvation and redemption.  But the Cross does not journey solo, an Icon of Virgin Mary accompanies it as according to the Christian mythology Jesus was accompanied by his mother everywhere. Besides this, people to declare their own concept of Catholicism sing songs on Catholic themes, display flags and other national declarations. Another significant tradition comprises Pope’s public appearance and his message to the audience and to the world followed by his final Mass.

Post 2002, WYD has been held every three years in different parts of the world and the grandeur of this affair has been multiplying ever since. Faith is the absolute driving force. Despite the traffic congestion, chaos and other controversies surrounding WYD, it doesn’t fail to show the world a renewed faith and a transformed face of Jesus Christ in every young person.

The motto of the 2013 Rio WYD was “Put on Christ in your life, place your faith in Him, and you will never be disappointed.” The official hymn of WYD ‘Hope of the Dawn’ also tells everyone to “Receive His gift of faith”. All of these activities show that WYD, in all, is the ultimate celebration of fraternity and faith.