Themes for upcoming World Youth Days

This morning, the Vatican Press Office announced that His Holiness, Pope Francis has decided on the themes of the next three World Youth Day celebrations.  These themes mark a three-year itinerary of spiritual preparation that will culminate with the international World Youth Day scheduled to be celebrated with the Successor of Peter in Krakow, Poland in July 2016.

For the 29th World Youth Day (Palm Sunday, 2014), the theme is Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:3).

For the 30th World Youth Day (Palm Sunday 2015), the theme is Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Mt 5:8).

For the 31st World Youth Day (Krakow, July 2016), the theme is Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Mt 5:7).

The three themes are taken from Saint Matthew's Beatitudes.  In Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, Pope Francis asked young people with all my heart to read the Beatitudes again and to make them the action plan for their lives.  During the meeting with youth from Argentina who were gathered in the Cathedral of Saint Sebastian on July 25, 2013, the Holy Father asked young people: Look, read the Beatitudes: that will do you good.