The symbols of the World Youth Days (WYD), which will take place in Lisbon, in 2023, will arrive in the Algarve this Friday, October 29, at Vila Real de Santo António and, during the month of November, will travel around the Vicarage of Tavira, Faro, Loulé and Portimão.
The Vigararia de Tavira, more precisely the Parish of Vila Real de Santo António, will be the first to receive the Pilgrim Cross and the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani, being planned, for these first days, various activities such as prayer vigils, catechesis meetings, Eucharist, rosary and a procession through the streets of the city of Tavir.
The symbols will later go through the Vigararia de Faro (November 7th), from Loulé (November 14th) and Portimão (November 19th), and is then scheduled to leave for the Diocese of Beja, on November 27th.
The program that will be dynamized in the Algarve parishes was drawn up jointly by the Diocesan Organizing Committee and the various Vigararias, «with each of them being responsible for preparing the passage of symbols through their territory», says the Diocese of Algarve.
In this way, “the entire Diocese and the entire Algarve community was integrated in this journey of preparation for WYD”.
The program includes moments in which the community can participate, as these World Youth Days «are not limited to just a few, but are a gift for everyone», explains the Diocese of Algarve.
These symbols will travel throughout all the Portuguese Dioceses, until July 2023, since the WYD will take place from 1st to 6th of August of that same year.
The two symbols of WYD are "signs of announcing this great activity of young Catholics and were given to the Portuguese by Pope Francis, on November 22, 2020, in Rome."
The Pilgrim Cross is 3,8 meters high and was built for the Holy Year in 1983, having been entrusted by St. John Paul II to young people on Palm Sunday the following year, to be taken around the world. Since then, the Pilgrim Cross has been on five continents and in nearly 90 countries, asserting itself as a sign of hope.
Since 2000, the Pilgrim Cross has been accompanied by the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani, which depicts the Virgin Mary with the Child in her arms. This icon was also introduced by Pope John Paul II as a symbol of Mary's presence among young people.
At 1,20 meters high and 80 centimeters wide, the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani it is associated with one of the most popular Marian devotions in Italy. The tradition of taking him in procession through the streets of Rome, to ward off dangers and misfortunes or put an end to pestilence, is ancient.
The original icon is found in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome, and is visited by Pope Francis who prays there and leaves a bunch of flowers, before and after each apostolic journey.
The program for the passage of the symbols of the World Youth Days in the Algarve can be consulted here.
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