Pope Benedict Prepares WYD Themes

The following comes from Catholic News Service:

Pope Benedict XVI has chosen the themes for the next three World Youth Days in order to help young Catholics better prepare for the international gathering in 2011.

The Vatican published the list of themes for 2009-2011 in a Dec. 16 press release.

The next international gathering will be held August 16-21, 2011, in Madrid, Spain.

The theme for the 2011 event is "Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith." The quotation is taken from the second chapter of St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians.

"We have set our hope on the living God" is the theme chosen by Pope Benedict for the 2009 celebrations, which will be held on the diocesan level.

In 2010, also on the diocesan level, young people will focus on the theme "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

The Pope chose all three themes ahead of time "to help build a spiritual itinerary that will lead to the international WYD scheduled to take place in Madrid," in 2011, said the Vatican press release.