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Throughout Pope John Paul II's papacy, youth has been a priority. When he was elected pope in 1978, John Paul said that young people are the future of the world and the hope of the Church. At the end of the Jubilee Year of the Redemption in 1984, the Pope invited young people to a special gathering on Palm Sunday in Rome. Three hundred thousand young people attended this Youth Jubilee. It was at this celebration that the Pope entrusted the Holy Year Cross to the youth of the world. This cross is now known as the WYD Cross. It has visited all the countries where WYDs have been held. In 1985, at the United Nations International Year of Youth, Pope John Paul II extended a second invitation to young people. This time 450,000 attended this second international youth gathering held on Palm Sunday in Rome. The theme was: "Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). WYD was held in Toronto this year and after the event, 600 Italian youths from Italy were guests in Montreal at the Leonardo da Vinci Center… |
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