Pilgrims at WYD 2008 in Sydney, Australia

Vatican City, Dec 16, 2008 / 11:11 am (CNA).- To help prepare Catholics for the 2011 World Youth Day celebrations in Madrid, Spain, Pope Benedict has announced that its theme will be: "Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith" (cf Col 2:7).

Additionally, the Holy Father also released the themes of the 2009 and 2011 World Youth Days which are celebrated at the local level on Palm Sunday in hopes to “build a spiritual itinerary culminating in the World Youth Day celebrations” scheduled to take place in Madrid in August 2011, noted a Vatican press release.

Next year, the theme of the 24^th World Youth Day will be: "We Have Set Our Hope on the Living God" (1 Tim 4:10). 

In 2010, the 25^th World Youth Day will have: "Good Teacher, What Must I do to Inherit Eternal Life?" (Mk 10:17) as its theme.

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All in Spain must make a commitment to WYD 2011, says cardinal