Here is a first look at the 2011 World Youth Day main event venues in Madrid. World Youth Day events are held in different venues, usually within the city. In this case, Madrid has opened itself early for the world to see. From a military airbase, to a religious monastery, Madrid is already hyped and getting ready. Prior to World youth day, “A day in the diocese” will be held all across Spain wherein pilgrims from all over the world will have a chance to prepare themselves for the main events through diocesan level program of activities for the pilgrims: religious, cultural, of human solidarity, etc. On the 16th of August, pilgrims will be arriving at Madrid coming from different points of Spain. In the evening at 8:00 pm, opening mass will be held and World Youth Day 2011 will be officially opened. Below are the schedule and photos of the venues of the main events.

Paza de Cibeles – Opening Mass on August 16 will be held here

Puerta de Alcala – Madrid’s most recognizable landmark where Pope Benedict XVI will pass through during his motorcade arrival on August 18

Monasterio de El Escorial – where meeting with Pope benedict and the religious sisters would take place

Cathedral de Almudena – Where Pope Benedict XVI will hold mass for the Seminarians

Cuatro Vientos Aerodrome – A military airbase with a size of 48 football fields where the Youth Vigil will take place on August 20 and the Final mass of Pope Benedict XVI on August 21. A massive stage / altar is currently being built for the event’s purpose

Fundación Instituto San José – A center for the sick run by the Hospitaller Order of St John of God which Pope Benedict XVI will visit before he proceeds to Cuatro Vientos for the Youth Vigil on August 20, 2011

Plaza de Colon – The main centerpoint of the Station of the Cross on August 19, 2011 where 50+ Carozas carying Holy Statues depicting the Passion of the Christ will be processioned

Parque de Retiro – Where the Vocation fair or expo will be held by different religious orders from all over the world

IFEMA Fairgrounds – where the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and World Youth Day volunteers will meet on August 21, 2011 before the Pope returns to Rome.

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WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011 MADRID SCHEDULE

August 11, 2011
Arrival at the dioceses
The pilgrims and groups that participate in the program Days in the Dioceses, arrive at the different host dioceses. For the time being, more than forty Spanish dioceses will received WYD participants.

August 12 – 14, 2011
Days in the Dioceses Program
Each diocese is preparing a program of activities for the pilgrims: religious, cultural, of human solidarity, etc. The plan of activities of each diocese will be gradually included in the corresponding page.

August 15, 2011 – Morning
Mass of Sending to WYD
On the 15th, solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the Bishops of the Spanish dioceses will celebrate the 2011 Mass to send pilgrims to Madrid, for young people of their diocese and the pilgrims that participate in the DID.

August 15, 2011 – Afternoon
Arrival to Madrid
On the 15th, in the afternoon, the pilgrims arrive to Madrid.

August 16, 2011

Cultural Program
Aside from the WYD main events, many different activities will take place throughout the day as part of the Cultural Program. The program will include concerts, exhibits, guided museum visits, plays, and much, much more. The complete list of activities will be announced later, when all proposals have been received and processed.

8:00 am
Arrival at Madrid
From the early morning, the pilgrims and groups registered in WYD will be able to collect their accreditation and backpacks in the places indicated by the organization.

8:00 pm
WYD Opening Mass
World Youth Day begins at 8 pm (provisional time) with a Mass in Madrid´s Cibeles Square, presided over by the archbishop of Madrid and concelebrated by the bishops and priests participating in WYD

August 17, 2011

Cultural Program
Aside from the WYD main events, many different activities will take place throughout the day as part of the Cultural Program. The program will include concerts, exhibits, guided museum visits, plays, and much, much more. The complete list of activities will be announced later, when all proposals have been received and processed.

10:00 am
Catechesis sessions
WYD participants, organized by language groups, will have catechesis session with bishops from all over the world. The sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid

August 18, 2011

10:00 am
Catechesis sessions
WYD participants, organized by language groups, will have catechesis session with bishops from all over the world. The sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid.

12:00 pm
The Pope arrives at the Barajas Airport
Welcome Ceremony at the State Hall

12:40 pm
The Pope enters the city of Madrid
Drive through the streets of the city in Popemobile to reach the Nunciature.

7:30 pm
Papal Welcome Ceremony with youth at Cibeles
In Plaza de la Independencia, Benedict XVI will pass through the Puerta de Alcalá with youth from all the continents. After this event, he will ride in Popemobile to Plaza de Cibeles.

August 19, 2011

10:00 am
Catechesis sessions
WYD participants, organized by language groups, will have catechesis session with bishops from all over the world. The sessions will take place in churches, schools, auditoriums and sports centers of Madrid.

11:30 am
Papal Meeting at the Monastery of El Escorial
Meeting with young religious sisters in “Patio de los Reyes”.
(The application process is closed)

12:00 am
Papal Meeting at the Monastery of El Escorial
Meeting with 1,000 young college professors in the Basilica.
(The application process is closed)

7:30 pm
Via crucis
Statues from traditional Spanish Holy Week celebrations will be used to illustrate each station of the cross. The statues come from all over Spain.

August 20, 2011

10:00 am
Mass for seminarians in the Cathedral of “La Almudena”

4:00 pm
Preparatory ceremony in Cuatro Vientos
Young people will arrive little by little at the aerodrome and take their places. Meanwhile, different activities will take place on the stage (testimonies of young people, musical interpretations, prayers to the Virgin, etc.), to prepare for the Vigil.

7:40 pm
Pope visits the “Fundación Instituto San José”
A center for the sick run by the Hospitaller Order of St John of God

8:30 pm
Vigil with the Pope
The Pope will arrive at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome, and Eucharistic adoration will begin. An address is planned by the Holy Father.

11:00 pm
Night in Cuatro Vientos
WYD participants will spend the night in the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome. For those who so wish, there will be several tents where they will be able to adore the Most Blessed Sacrament.

August 21, 2011

9:00 am
The Pope arrives in Cuatro Vientos

9:30 am
WYD Final Mass
The Pope will concelebrate Mass with thousands of bishops and priests, and he will address young people and those who are not so young, to send them out to the world to witness to their faith, as the Lord did with his Apostles. At the end of the conclusive Mass, the Holy Father will announce the place where the next edition of World Youth Day will be held.

5:30 pm
Encounter with Volunteers
Pope Benedict XVI will have a brief meeting with the World Youth Day volunteers at the IFEMA Fairgrounds

6:30 pm
Papal Farewell
There will be a brief Farewell Ceremony at the Barajas Airport