Blessed John Paul II to become patron saint of World Youth Day
Vatican City, 8 February 2014: When Pope Francis canonizes Blessed John Paul II on
Divine Mercy Sunday, he will also proclaim him patron saint of World Youth Day, Vatican’s
Newspaper L’Osservatore Romano noted.
In his message for the 29th World Youth
Day, which will be held on Palm Sunday at the Vatican, Pope Francis said that “the
canonization of John Paul II, to be celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, will
be an event marked by immense joy.”
“He will be the great patron of the World
Youth Days which he inaugurated and always supported,” Pope Francis added. “In the
communion of saints he will continue to be a father and friend to all of you.”
Blessed
John Paul announced World Youth Day in 1985, and the first World Youth Day was held
the following year. International gatherings are interspersed with the Palm Sunday
gatherings at the Vatican; the next worldwide celebration take place in Krakow in
2016. Source: CWN