Between 1995 and 1996, France has been testing Nuclear bombs in the French Atoll in the Pacific lead by President Chirac. This perhaps motivated Pope John Paul II in choosing Paris as the next destination of World Youth Day of 1997 in order to renew the commitment of the French People in keeping the Peace throughout the world minus the manufacturing of weapons of Mass Destruction. The 1997 World Youth Day in Paris was dubbed as the beginning of the Woodstock of the Catholic Church wherein for the first time in Church History, Rock songs with religious and inspirational themes were allowed to be played, sung and danced by the young people who gathered there. In a world wide via satellite broadcast, the world saw the largest gathering of young people who were proud to show their faith amidst the threats of secularism and modernism. One international journalist who happens to be a Catholic exclaimed that “I never saw such huge proclamation of faith. I am convinced that I am never alone in my Catholic Faith”. This remark is re-echoed by WYD participants year after year, searching for identities and belongingness in a world that is hostile to their church and to their faith. Indeed in Paris, they saw the international community of young believers chanting the battle cry to believe in God and have faith.

THEME: Teacher, where are you staying? Come and see!” (Jn 1:38-39)

LOGO

1. The Cross of Christ towers above which symbolizes triumph and victory over all and the focal point of the celebration. Christ is the sole reason of the celebration.
2. The color yellow represents the city of Rome in which the event started. Yellow also symbolizes enthusiasm, joy and celebration of the event.
3. The Color blue symbolizes water, humanity and baptism. It represents the world.
4. The tower is shaped in the form of the Eiffel Tower, the landmark of France in Paris in which the event will take place. Paris plays an imporantant role in the celebration, of which it is the host.
5. The circle below the tower symbolizes the youth gathering at the feet of the Eiffel tower in Paris to celebrate the world youth day. The cirlce is colored oranged to represent the dynamicity of the encounter. It would also mean that the youth represented by the circle is under the Cross of Christ which symbolizes the youth as witnesses of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection just as Mary have been during Christ’s Lifetime. The youth is always called to be the living witnesses of the faith in Christ and to proclaim to the whole world the triumph of the Cross.

HIGHLIGHTS

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