1. Home > WYD 2008 Journey Cross and Icon

WYD 2008 Journey Cross and Icon

The World Youth Day Cross is the most significant tangible symbol of World Youth Day. Originally the idea of Pope John Paul II, the 3.8 metre high wooden Cross was built and placed as a symbol of the Catholic faith, near the main altar in St Peter’s Basilica during the Holy Year of 1983. At the end of that year, Pope John Paul gave this cross as a gift to the youth of the world, to be carried through the world as a symbol of Christ’s love for humanity.

“My dear young people, at the conclusion of the Holy Year, I entrust to you the sign of this Jubilee Year: the Cross of Christ! Carry it throughout the world as a symbol of Christ’s love for humanity and announce to everyone that only in the death and resurrection of Christ can we find salvation and redemption.”
His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Rome, 22 April 1984.

Since then, the World Youth Day cross has travelled far and wide – it has been throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, South America and The Philippines, to Poland and Prague, to the German Parliament and even to Ground Zero in New York. It has been carried by commercial airline, light aircraft, dog sled, pick-up truck, tractor, sail boat, fishing boat and on shoulders. From parish churches to youth detention centres, prisons, schools, universities, national historic sites, shopping centres, nightclub districts and parks. It is truly an international symbol for Catholic youth.

The Icon of our Lady

On Palm Sunday in 2003, the Pope introduced a new element for WYD: from then on, the WYD Cross would be accompanied on its pilgrimage by the Icon of Our Lady, Salus Populi Romani.

“Today I also entrust to the delegation from Germany the Icon of Mary. From now on it will accompany the World Youth Days, together with the Cross. Behold, your Mother! It will be a sign of Mary’s motherly presence close to young people who are called, like the Apostle John, to welcome her into their lives.”
(Angelus, 18th World Youth Day, 13 April 2003).

The Cross and Icon were handed over to the Australian delegation on Palm Sunday 2007. It travelled across Oceania and Australia over 12 months and touched many lives.