The theme of next year’s World Youth Day to be celebrated by local Churches is: "Always
be joyful in the Lord!", taken from the Letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Philippians
(4:4), while World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro will have as its motto the Lord’s
command at the end of the Gospel according to St Matthew: "Go and make disciples of
all nations" (cf. Mt 28:19).
Pope Benedict XVI announced the themes during
his weekly General Audience in Castel Gandolfo.
Before announcing the themes
of the upcoming World Youth Day celebrations to pilgrims gathered this Wednesday in
the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo for his weekly General Audience,
Pope Benedict XVI looked back on recently completed visit to Madrid for World Youth
Day.
Speaking to the faithful at the Papal Summer residence in the hills outside
Rome, Pope Benedict reminisced about 4-day trip to Spain, during which he met with
seminarians and young women religious, young university professors, young people with
disabilities, and young volunteers, along with over a million young people from every
part of the globe who heard the Pope’s call for “resolute, but prudent” witness to
Christ’s Gospel for the transformation of societies and the salvation of the world,
on Thursday shortly after his arrival, and again at the concluding Mass on Sunday.
“The
gathering at Madrid was,” he said, “a stupendous manifestation of faith for Spain
and for the whole world.”
The Pope went on to greet pilgrims in many languages,
including English:
I warmly greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and
visitors here today. Having just returned from Madrid, I greet affectionately the
young people present, especially those who were with me for the unforgettable celebration
of World Youth Day. I also welcome those present from Australia, Indonesia, Japan,
Singapore and the United States. May God bless all of you and remain with you for
ever!
World Youth Day in Rio is scheduled to take place from July 8th
to July 13th, 2013. Listen