VATICAN CITY JULY 28, 2015 (CISA) – On July 26, Pope Francis invited the youth of the world to pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2016 and become the first registered pilgrim for the event after signing up using an iPad.
“Today we open registration for the thirty-first World Youth Day, to be held next year in Poland,” he said. “I invite the youth of the world to live this pilgrimage that will be going to Krakow.”
“… I enrolled in the day as a pilgrim through this electronic device,” Pope Francis said from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square after praying the Angelus, reported CNA.
The Pope further said the next World Youth Day will be “a jubilee of youth” who are called to reflect on its biblical theme, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” and that they (youth) will be “participating in this moment of grace for their communities.”
St. John Paul II instituted the international gathering in 1985 to bring together young people to pray and worship and to celebrate their Catholic faith. The events are held every 2-3 years and have drawn crowds of up to 5 million people.
Pope Francis attended the 2013 World Youth Day with millions of people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. World Youth Day 2016 will be held in Krakow, Poland from July 26-31 with about 2.5 million people from all over the world including Africa expected to attend.
