By Verghese V Joseph –
Considering the current health situation and its consequences on the movement and aggregation of young people and families, two major international ecclesial events will be postponed.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, the Director of the Holy See Press Office confirmed that Pope Francis, together with the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, has decided to postpone the World Meeting of Families and World Youth Day.
The World Meeting of Families – Delle Famiglie – scheduled in Rome in June 2021, has been re-scheduled for June, 2022.
Likewise, and the next World Youth Day, scheduled in Lisbon in August 2022, to August 2023.
It was in 1984 at the close of the Holy Year of Redemption, over 300,000 young people from around the world responded to the invitation of His Holiness John Paul II for an International Jubilee of youth on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s square. Looking out to the crowds who answered his invitation he said, “What a fantastic spectacle is presented on this stage by your gathering here today! Who claimed that today’s youth has lost their sense of values? Is it really true that they cannot be counted on?” It was at this gathering that the Holy Father entrusted to the youth what is now known as the World Youth Day Cross, to be carried throughout the world as a symbol of the love of Christ for humanity.”
The following Palm Sunday, coinciding with the United Nation’s International Year of the Youth, Our Holy Father took the opportunity to welcome the youth of the world to Rome again. Later, announcing the institution of World Youth Day on December 20, 1985, and the first official WYD was held in 1986.