When is World Youth Day in 2016?

The 2016 World Youth Day begins on Monday, July 25th and ends on Sunday, July 31st. 

What is World Youth Day?

World Youth Day is a celebration that was founded by Pope John Paul II in 1985. Originally, the date was designated as Palm Sunday. However, the selected day now varies. International celebrations of World Youth Day with the Pope officiating Mass in the Philippines have drawn crowds in excess of six million people. The celebrations held on this day have a strong national and cultural flavor on the local level. Crowds display flags with pride and sing national songs with a religious theme. Pilgrims travel from all over the world to attend the World Youth Day celebration in the city where the Pope will make a public appearance. The day is filled with prayer, celebration, and worship in accordance with local traditions and the traditions of the Catholic Church. The goal of this celebration is to engage and show trust in the world’s youth as those who will carry the Catholic faith to future generations.

International Youth Day is an unrelated holiday that was instituted by the United Nations in 1999. It declares August 12 as a day to recognize the needs of young people. It typically puts the focus on education and advocacy for the rights and wellbeing of youth. The theme for 2014 was Youth and Mental Health.