VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Announcing the themes for the next three World Youth Day celebrations, Pope Francis called on young men and women to meditate on the path of Christian life that God has called them to walk.
Meeting with 280 young people from 109 countries who took part in a postsynod Youth Forum in Rome June 22, the pope said he hoped the themes of the World Youth Day celebrations for the next three years will be a “harmonious coordination” between the synod process and the next international celebration of World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2022.
“Do not tune out the voice of God, who urges you to arise and follow the paths that he has prepared for you,” the pope told the young adults.
According to the Vatican, the themes chosen by the pope for the World Youth Day celebrations were:
For 2020: “Young man, I tell you, arise!” (Lk 7:14)
For 2021: “Arise! I have appointed you as a witness of what you have seen.” (Acts 26:16)
For 2022: “Mary arose and went with haste.” (Lk 1:39)
World Youth Day is celebrated annually on a local level and every two or three years with an international gathering with the pope. The annual Rome diocesan celebration with the pope is on Palm Sunday each year.
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