With just nine months until World Youth Day 2016, registration for Sydney pilgrims is now open.
Catholic Youth Services today announced pilgrims can sign up for one of four travel options en route to Krakow, Poland, for the 26-31 July youth celebration.
Pilgrims can choose to take in the Holy Land, WYD, and a retreat, follow the footsteps of St John Paul II through Rome and Poland before continuing on to WYD and a retreat, visit the Marian Shrines of Lourdes and Fatima, followed by WYD and a retreat, or travel directly to WYD and conclude with a retreat.
The number of registered pilgrims around the world recently surpassed 400,000 as young Catholics respond to the lure of St John Paul II’s homeland, the popularity of Pope Francis and the temptation of Europe in summer.
Pope Francis last month called on the world’s young Catholics to perform spiritual and corporal works of mercy every month in the run-up to WYD.
In his message for WYD he asked that they not be afraid to experience God’s “boundless mercy, so that in turn you may become apostles of mercy by your actions, words and prayers in our world, wounded by selfishness, hatred and so much despair”.
The pope’s request was in keeping with the theme of WYD16 from the Gospel of St Matthew: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”
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Visit CYS to register for WYD.