Vatican City, 3 July 2014 (VIS) – In
a press conference held this morning the metropolitan archbishop of
Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, presented the logo and official
prayer for the 31st World Youth Day.
Three elements are combined in the
symbolism of the logo: the place, the main protagonists , and the
theme of the celebration. The logo of the 2016 World Youth Day, to be
held in Krakow, illustrates the passage from the Gospel according to
Matthew, 5.7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain
mercy”, chosen as the theme of the event. The image is composed of
a geographical outline of Poland, in which there is a Cross, symbol
of Christ Who is the soul of World Youth Day. The yellow circle marks
the position of Krakow on the map of Poland and is also a symbol of
youth. The flame of Divine Mercy emerges from the Cross, and its
colours recall the image “Jesus, I trust in you”. The colours
used in the logo – blue, red and yellow – are the official
colours of Krakow and its coat of arms.
The logo was designed by Monika
Rybczynska, a young woman aged 28 from Ostrzeszow, a small town in
the mid-west of Poland, following the canonisation of St. John Paul
II.
The press conference also included the
presentation of the official prayer of World Youth Day 2016, which
entrusts humanity and the young to divine mercy, asks the Lord for
the grace of a merciful heart, and asks the intercession of the
Virgin Mary and St. John Paul II, patron of World Youth Day.
“God, merciful Father,
in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have
revealed your love
and poured it out upon us in the Holy
Spirit, the Comforter,
We entrust to you today the destiny of
the world and of every man and woman”.
We entrust to you in a special way
young people of every language, people
and nation:
guide and protect them as they walk the
complex paths of the world today
and give them the grace to reap
abundant fruits
from their experience of the Krakow
World Youth Day.
Heavenly Father,
grant that we may bear witness to your
mercy.
Teach us how to convey the faith to
those in doubt,
hope to those who are discouraged,
love to those who feel indifferent,
forgiveness to those who have done
wrong
and joy to those who are unhappy.
Allow the spark of merciful love
that you have enkindled within us
become a fire that can transform hearts
and renew the face of the earth.
Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us.
St. John Paul II, pray for us.
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