By Catholic News Service on Thursday, 3 July 2014
The World Youth Day 2016 logo
The official logo and prayer for World Youth Day 2016 were unveiled in the event’s host city — Krakow, Poland — by the city’s archbishop, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz.
The logo and prayer focus on the theme chosen by Pope Francis from the Gospel of Matthew: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”
The logo, created by Monika Rybczynska, 28, with help from Emilia Pyza, 26, features a red and blue flame of Divine Mercy flowing from a gold cross that is surrounded by a red outline of the map of Poland. A gold dot represents the city of Krakow on the map and symbolizes the youth. The red, blue and yellow colors represent the official colors of Krakow and the city’s coat of arms.
The prayer begins with a line from St John Paul II’s homily at the dedication of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow in 2002: “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.”
The first part of the prayer entrusts to the Lord’s mercy all of humanity, especially the world’s young people. The second part asks God to grant to the faithful the grace of being merciful toward others, especially those who have doubts about faith or who are discouraged. The last part asks for the intercession of Mary and St John Paul — the patron saint of World Youth Day.
The Archdiocese of Krakow is the former see of St John Paul and is home to the Divine Mercy shrine. St John Paul had a great devotion to Divine Mercy, the recognition of God’s mercy as demonstrated in his sending his son to die for the sins of humanity.
Pope Francis has asked young people to read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12, not just as a way to prepare for the 2015 diocesan celebration for World Youth Day and the international gathering with the Pope in 2016, but also in order to make them a blueprint for their whole lives.
The international gathering is scheduled for July 26-31, 2016, with Pope Francis and youth from all over the world.
The last international celebration of World Youth Day, which Pope Francis celebrated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in July 2013, concluded with a Mass attended by 3 million people.
Below please find the full text of the World Youth Day 2016 official prayer:
“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.
Catholicism Pure & Simple 
How’s this for an official prayer/theme…. God please help us…
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While I understand that Krakowians (sic? Kracovians?) and the WYD organisers are enthusiastic, I think it’s a bit silly to expect other people to be excited about the logo. God help us, indeed. 🙂
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Marc: I suspect we ask God to Help us for different reasons
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I’m grateful for the detailed symbolic explanation by Monika and Emilia. (Pictures of them, please!)
…I had originally thought the yellow blob represented a clown’s nose.
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I think it’s a rather nice logo, as those things go. A person reaching up to grab the Cross is what I see. Sorry, Geoff, if I’m missing something sinister. I’ve got a YouTube video here somewhere we can watch together later 😉
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John Henry: I refer to past world youth days (Sydney Aust) when bikini clad women/girls dancing around during Mass and receiving Holy Communion. Also of Consecrated Hosts found on the Ground. Men/Women/Teenagers sleeping together in the Open Air. half naked teenagers of both sexes dancing provocatively semi delirious ( Drugs maybe?). The screaming of head banging rock music during ‘Mass’. Teenagers ‘swamping’ the pavilions of the Various Religious Orders inquiring about Vocations, caught up in the euphoria and emotion inspired by above mentioned Rock Music perhaps. gross lack of respect during Mass. Sacred Hosts being ‘dispensed’ from Paper Cups to everyone. Some not knowing what they were receiving as evidenced by holding up the hosts to their friends and giggling…..
Religious Orders reporting that despite the interest shown at the time no noticeable increase in Vocations years later. I could go on and on…..
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PS John Henry: Yes I would like to U tube video…
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There will be no YouTube videos from me tonight. But as for World Youth Days, I remember World Youth Day in Toronto twelve years ago, presided over by St John Paul. Here was an old man in the last years of his life bringing a message of joy and courage and hope to a huge crowd of young people standing on the tarmac of a windswept and rainy airport. I don’t know how each and every person there – most wearing raincoats and certainly not dancing around half-naked (provocatively or not) – reacted to his message, but I do know that wife and I (not youngsters) were affected by it, me profoundly, so much so that it was another door opened and welcoming me into Holy Mother Church.
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Well, it was Australia, Geoff.
I’m surprised anyone showed up for any event with the word “Youth” in it. I wouldn’t have (when young).
“The screaming of head banging rock music during ‘Mass’. Teenagers ‘swamping’ the pavilions of the Various Religious Orders inquiring about Vocations, caught up in the euphoria and emotion inspired by above mentioned Rock Music perhaps.”
Interesting, the notion of being so moved by “I can’t get no satisfaction,” that one might consider joining the Dominicans.
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Come on John Henry… its only 3.28Pm 6/7/14……
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