WYD symbols to arrive in Krakow

May 26, 2016

POLAND: Preparations for World Youth Day 2016 in Poland are gathering pace. The World Youth Day symbols, the Holy Year Cross and the copy of an icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani are due arrive May 20th in the Archdiocese of Krakow.

The symbols will be brought to the sanctuary of Pope Saint John Paul II in Krakow, where at 5:00pm local time Holy Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Stanis?aw Dziwisz.

They are expected to visit over 200 churches and 50 schools as well as a number of prisons and hospitals ahead of the WYD celebrations celebrations to be presided over by Pope Francis at the end of July.--Vatican Radio

The Symbols

WYD Cross:
The World Youth Day cross has many names: the Jubilee Cross, the Pilgrim Cross, the Youth Cross. It was entrusted to the youth as they were given the commission to “carry it throughout the world as a symbol of Christ’s love for humanity, and announce to everyone that only in the death and resurrection of Christ can we find salvation and redemption.” The cross set out with the young people from St Peter’s in 1984 and has since been carried around the world, making a pilgrimage from parish to parish, diocese to diocese and country to country.

Where is the Cross:
In association with the World Youth Days, the cross will precede an international World Youth Day in a country. For example, on Palm Sunday 2009, the youth of Australia met the youth of Madrid in Rome to entrust the cross to them. Since 2006, the cross has been making its journey through the south pacific as a testimony of Christ’s love. Preceding the WYD in Krakow 2016, it will be carried by the youth of Spain throughout their country, renewing hope in salvation and redemption through Christ.

WYD Icon:
The cross does not journey alone, however. In our time it will always be accompanied by an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary (as Christ Himself was accompanied by his mother in history.) On Palm Sunday in Rome, 2003, a delegation of Canadian youth passed on the cross to that of Germany.

On the same occasion, Pope John Paul II entrusted to the youth an icon of the Blessed Mother that would accompany the cross. “It will be a sign of Mary’s motherly presence close to young people who are called, like the Apostle John, to welcome her into their lives,” said the Pontiff.

Impact:
So the cross and icon are carried together through the world touching hearts and inspiring holiness. There are countless testimonies from people who have encountered the pilgrim Cross and Icon. One youth from Canada’s delegation to receive the cross prior to WYD 2002 in Toronto said, “This cross has had a tremendous impact on all of the nations where it has been present.