The Youth Office of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, Life of the Holy See has released the "Pastoral Guidelines for the Celebration of World Youth Day in the Particular Churches" for the National & Diocesan World Youth Day celebrations on the Annual Feast of Christ the King.

An experience of faith and vocational discernment, a personal encounter between pastors and young people (not only those involved in the life of the Church), an opportunity to discover and put into practice the protagonism of the younger generations - these are some of the various dimensions of the local edition of WYD, highlighted in the "Pastoral Guidelines for the Celebration of World Youth Day in the Particular Churches" that were presented today at the Vatican Press Office.

The document, prepared by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life and approved by the Holy Father Pope Francis, is intended "for the Bishops' Conferences, the Synods of the Patriarchal and Major Archbishop's Churches, dioceses/eparchies, ecclesial movements and associations and, last but not least, for young people all over the world, so that the 'diocesan/eparchial WYD' may be lived fully as a moment of celebration 'for young people' and 'with young people'."

"We firmly believe that the international WYD and its local counterpart are mutually enriching. The international dimension broadens the horizons of young people and opens them to universal brotherhood. The local WYD, because of its geographical and physical proximity, can more easily generate a commitment in young people that will change the face of the society in which they live and increase their sense of belonging”, explains the Secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, Fr. Alexandre Awi Mello.

The first young people who read the document welcomed it as a message of closeness and encouragement from the Church, which the world of youth today is in great need of.

"How many young people, as the text of the Guidelines says, would not come for a prayer in church but would be willing to participate in a pilgrimage experience, walking and discovering together, forming new friendships and sharing moments of joy!" - emphasises Maria Lisa Abu Nassar, a young person from Nazareth.

World Youth Day was born in 1985 from the prophetic intuition of John Paul II. Every year since then, it has been celebrated at the diocesan level on Palm Sunday. Until November 22, 2020, the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, Pope Francis announced that, beginning in 2021, the local celebration of WYD would be linked to Christ the King Sunday - a change that underscores and reaffirms the intention that has animated WYD since its inception: to gather young people around the person of Jesus Christ, Redeemer of mankind.