World Youth Day Cross and Icon to inspire youth at the Catholic Youth Festival
In a celebration of faith and unity, the official World Youth Day Cross and Icon will arrive in Melbourne as a highlight of the 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF). Their return to Melbourne for ACYF will mark the second time they've travelled to Australia, following their visit ahead of World Youth Day 2008.
Originally gifted by St John Paul II to young people of the world in 1984, the World Youth Day Cross has travelled the world, uniting millions of young Catholics in prayer and reflection over the past 40 years. Since 2003, the cross has been accompanied by the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani, also gifted by Pope John Paul II as a symbol of Mary's presence among young people.
Following agreement with the World Youth Day Seoul 2027 organisers, the cross and icon will travel to Melbourne and be present throughout the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, set to take place from 30 November to 2 December.
The festival is a national event providing young people with the opportunity to come together in fellowship, strengthen their relationship with Jesus and be inspired to live their faith in everyday life. Thousands of young people from across Australia and Oceania are expected to attend the 2025 festival.
One of the most anticipated highlights of the festival is the pilgrimage walk on Sunday, 30 November, which will see thousands of pilgrims travel from Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral to the festival venue, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The cross and icon will lead this powerful procession, symbolising a unified pilgrimage toward Christ and encouraging young pilgrims to embrace their calling as disciples in the world.
The WYD Cross and Icon has been carried by air, by foot, by crane, on the back of trucks and other modes of transport during its 40-year history. Our Lady Salus Populi Romani has accompanied the WYD Cross since 2003.
Known affectionately as the “Pilgrim Cross”, the simple wooden cross is nearly four metres tall, and has been seen as a sign of hope in the places it has visited. In 1985, at the time Europe was divided by the iron curtain, it was taken to Prague to represent communion with the Pope. Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, the cross was taken to Ground Zero in New York, where almost 3,000 lives had been lost. And in 2006, it was taken to Rwanda, a country plagued by civil war. Together with the icon of Mary, a copy of the ancient Marian image located in Rome, the two symbols are profound reminders of God's eternal presence and love.
With its theme, “Pilgrims of Hope”, the festival will provide participants with a powerful encounter of Christ through prayer, music, workshops and dynamic speakers. Festival organisers believe the inclusion of the Cross and Icon will significantly enhance the festival and enrich the experience of thousands of young pilgrims.
Registrations for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival are open. Use the link below for more information on the program and ways to engage with the Festival.
Australian Catholic Youth Festival