(ANS – Vatican City) – Forty years ago, on 14 April 1984, the first gathering of young people took place in St Peter's Square with the Pope, which was the seed from which the World Youth Days (WYD) subsequently arose. On Palm Sunday of that year, as part of the Youth Jubilee, Saint John Paul II gave the cross to young people with the mission of carrying it throughout the world, as a sign and reminder that only in Jesus dead and risen is there salvation and redemption. To celebrate this significant anniversary, during the weekend just passed, the International San Lorenzo Youth Centre with the patronage of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and the John Paul II Foundation for Youth, organised a series of commemorative events.

In 1984 Pope John Paul II wanted to organize a meeting for Palm Sunday, in Rome, to celebrate the Jubilee of young people in the context of the Holy Year of the Redemption 1983-1984. 60,000 pilgrims were expected. 250,000 arrived, from many countries. The experience was so significant for the whole Church that the Holy Father decided to repeat it the following year.

(ANS – Lisbon) – There are 25 days to go until the beginning of World Youth Day, which will be held in Lisbon from 1 to 6 August and will gather many young people from all over the world in the Portuguese capital, ready to meet Pope Francis and experience a true celebration of youth together. With the approach of this important and long-awaited event, WYD DON BOSCO 23 - the Salesian Youth Movement organisation responsible for the convocation and involvement of young people from different Salesian settings around the world in the upcoming WYD - invites us to learn about the great work it is doing on the main social networks.

(ANS – Rome) – On 22 November 2020 Pope Francis called for a relaunch of the celebration of WYD in the particular Churches. He announced that this celebration which has been traditionally held on Palm Sunday, starting in 2021 will be held on the Sunday of the Solemnity of Christ the King.

(ANS - Krakow) - Although there is still a long time yet to the World Youth Day in Lisbon 2023, preparations for this important youth and ecclesial event are in full swing in Poland.

Vatican City, Vatican - November 2020 - On November 22, Pope Francis presided over the Eucharistic celebration at the end of which a representation of young Panamanians handed over the symbols of World Youth Days - the Cross and the icon of Mary "Salus Populi Romani" - to a group of Portuguese youth. “It is an important step,” said the Pope, “in the pilgrimage that will lead us to Lisbon in 2023.”