Blessed John Paul II entrusted it to the young people of the world, represented at that time by volunteers of the Centro San Lorenzo International Youth Centre (CSL) in Rome. To this day, the CSL, located just a few meters from the Vatican, remains the official home of the WYD Cross. Soon after the conclusion of the Holy Year, the Cross began its journey which, over the years, would take it to Germany, France, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Luxembourg, Ireland, Scotland, Malta, the United States, the Netherlands, Korea, Poland, Switzerland and Australia. It also became a central feature of WYD, travelling to Buenos Aires (1987), Santiago de Compostela (1989), Czestochowa (1991), Denver (1993) and Manila (1995). Over the years, the Cross fell into disrepair and was replaced by one of several official copies in 1996. This Cross would participate in the WYDs of Paris (1997), Rome (2000), Toronto (2002), Cologne (2005), Sydney (2008), and Madrid (2011). In addition to WYD, the Cross travelled throughout Africa in 2006 and Oceania in 2007. In association with the World Youth Days, the cross precedes an international World Youth Day in a country. For example, on Palm Sunday 2009, the youth of Australia met the youth of Madrid in Rome to entrust the cross to them. Not long after Pope Benedict XVI announced that World Youth Day (WYD) 2013 would take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this Cross began its journey throughout the country concluding its “pilgrimage” in Rio, where it was a central feature in the WYD events. As of 2003, the WYD Cross has always travelled with the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani. And the organizers of the World Youth Day (WYD) Rio2013 took a step in providing interactivity and information to young people around the world on the WYD cross. They made available an application “Siga a Cruz”, or “Follow the Cross”, that allowed smartphone and tablet users to follow the journey of the WYD symbols (the Pilgrim Cross and the Icon of Our Lady) throughout Brazil. The tool was free to download from iTunes, and was currently offered in Portuguese the official language of Brazil. With the application, the user will see, initially, his/her current position on the map by a blue circle, to be automatically updated if the person walks. Circles in red, green and yellow, will show the locations where the cross is, where it has been, and where it will be, respectively. The green circles will point out on the map all places where the Cross has been to; it will display name, address, and date
of visit (arrival and departure). This resource will allow sharing through social networks (Facebook and Twitter) and give the option “How to get here” which traces the route from the user’s starting point marked with a cross. The red circle will show the location where the cross is at the moment, with information about the region and options of how to get there. The yellow circle will indicate all the registered locations to be visited by the Cross. Thus, as in the other options, the user sees the information about the region that will receive the WYD symbols. What remains of the original WYD Cross – the horizontal beam and plaque – still stands in the CSL. This Cross has been taken on various missions throughout Rome and Italy, such as one to the Italian city of Aquila in 2009 following the region’s deadly earthquake, as well as to various prisons in and around Rome. It is also frequently brought into Saint Peter’s Square where it serves as a focal point for prayer, evangelization, and discussion about the Catholic faith. Over the years, the WYD Cross has been venerated by thousands of people throughout the world, whether it is on pilgrimage serving as a testament of faith, or being brought to laces of suffering to serve as a sign of hope and redemption. In the words of Pope Benedict to the youth of the world on the 25th anniversary of the WYD Cross, 2009: “Dear friends, once again I entrust this Cross to you! Continue to carry it to every corner of the earth, so that the generations to come may discover the Mercy of God and revive in their hearts hope in the Crucified and Risen Christ!” And at the just concluded WYD Dozens of young people actively participated in the way of cross in Rio , some carrying the Pilgrim Cross, others carrying flags representing the countries participating in World Youth Day. Pope Francis asked the young people how they wanted to carry their cross, “Like Pilate who washed his hands, Simon the Cyrene who helped Christ carry His cross, or women such as Mary Magdalene who were not afraid to stand by Him until the end.” The pontiff said that Jesus unites himself to those who are having a difficult time, to those who suffer, whatever the motive may be, because Christ accepts all with open arms. Since Pope Francis announced that Krakow, Poland will host the next World Youth Day in the summer of 2016 the “pilgrim” Cross will begin its journey throughout that country in the months leading up to WYD 2016.
THE SEED - VOL 25, No. 8, AUGUST 2013
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