The official World Youth Day Cross and Icon will travel to Melbourne later this year, as a highlight of the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, set to be hosted by the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
The pilgrim Cross and the Icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani were originally gifted by St John Paul II to young people of the world in 1984. Since then, the World Youth Day Cross and Icon have travelled the globe, uniting millions of young Catholics in prayer and reflection over the past 40 years.
It will be just the second time the Pilgrim Cross and Icon have travelled to Australia, the first time being World Youth Day in 2008. The Cross will travel to Melbourne under a special agreement with the World Youth Day Seoul 2027 organisers.
Festival Director Teresa Rhynehart expressed her excitement for the upcoming event.
"Welcoming the World Youth Day Cross and Icon to Melbourne for ACYF 2025 is a profound moment for the youth of our nation," she said. "It will be an inspiring reminder that we are part of something much larger – the universal Church journeying together in faith."
Clergy and youth from Broken Bay are being encouraged to attend the event, which will be attended by Bishop Anthony Randazzo. To assist with this, the Diocese is offering a limited opportunity to access a $500 subsidy to assist with costs.
Established by the Australian Bishops, the festival is a national event that offers young people the opportunity to come together in fellowship, strengthen their relationship with Jesus and be inspired to live out their faith in everyday life.
Thousands of young people from across Australia are expected to attend the 2025 festival in Melbourne in November.
Broken Bay pilgrims can register their interest in attending here.