Pope Francis visits Panama for World Youth Day
By Francesca Merlo
Jul 29 2023
A website dedicated to spreading information about World Youth Day has evolved into a mission to preserve the spirit of the global youth gatherings, while providing a source of communion and authentic Catholic media coverage of the Pope’s encounters with young people.
WorldYouthDay.com, a website with a unique purpose, has evolved into an platform dedicated to preserving the spirit of World Youth Days and promoting communion among young people globally.
In an interview with Vatican News, the editor of the website, Dario Mobini, discussed the goals behind the website and the crucial role it plays in providing authentic Catholic media coverage for World Youth Days.
WorldYouthDay.com
The birth of WorldYouthDay.com dates back to 2008 when Mr. Mobini and several friends noticed an available website domain. He and his team acquired it with the objective of spreading information about World Youth Day.
As he explained, “we ended up putting information about World Youth Day, how to prepare for World Youth Day, and then how to engage in World Youth Day. That was the only purpose of the website at that point.”
Expanding the vision
However, as Pope Francis’ papacy unfolded, the website’s purpose expanded beyond a simple information website and was relaunched with a new mission in 2013.
Inspired by the Pope’s message to young people to “make a mess” and evangelise using modern means, the website’s vision broadened.
“We started taking advantage an opportunity to take the story of St. John Paul II, of what he envisioned, of what young people were to do, how they were to gather,” said Mr. Mobini.
The core message of St. John Paul II, as expressed in his 1983 letter Delecti Amici, resonated with Mr. Mobini and his team. The letter emphasised that young people are not merely the future of the Church but the Church of the present.
In this regard, Mr. Mobini explains that in his letter John Paul II wanted to “to bring young people together. But it wasn’t a letter to bring young people together so that they can just be together and say, ‘Yay, the Church, you’re the future’.”
“No,” he stressed, “it was a letter to remind young people that you are called to conversion, but most importantly, that make a mark now in society. Because you’re not the Church of the future, you’re the Church of now.”
A “bank” of faith
With this brodened vision, WorldYouthDay.com transformed into an archival bank that stores historical content, testimonies, pictures, homilies, and messages related to World Youth Days, which have spread across three papacies.
This collection serves as a reminder of the beautiful message that the Church imparts to young people and how World Youth Days leave a meaningful impact on society.
Mr. Mobini emphasises the importance of preserving this legacy, ensuring that it remains authentic and relevant across generations.
He states, “We want to make sure that that stays that way, and that the stories are kept alive and that the themes are kept alive and that the World Youth Day itself is kept alive from one papacy to the other.”
Catholic media at WYD
Mr. Mobini then went on to discuss the role of Catholic media in covering World Youth Days. He highlighted the need to capture the raw emotions, stories of conversion, and vocations that emerge from these events.
His team aims to inspire young people, and other generations as well, by sharing these powerful stories and connecting those who could not attend, making the experience accessible to everyone.
He explains, “We want to give everybody a visual sight, a feel for the thing, not like a virtual reality feel, but a feel of an experience with the stories that we’re going to capture from this event.”
Communion
Mr. Mobini highlighted the concept of communion, which lies at the heart of World Youth Day. He stressed that young people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and languages come together in unity, becoming witnesses of Christ’s love.
He described World Youth Day as a powerful example of communion, where youg people find refuge, strength, solace, and hope by journeying together.
He noted that, “in our Christian journey, we are not alone. We have each individual community. We come from different backgrounds, different cultures, different languages. But we do not come to World Youth Day just for that”, he said. “We’re coming together and listening to stories of testimonies of young people who are struggling, who are suffering, and yet we’re finding compassion because compassion means to suffer with, and we are uniting ourselves, accompanying them, and this is what we call solidarity.”
Looking to the future
Mr. Mobini shared his vision for the future of WorldYouthDay.com, saying he wants it to become a platform that continues to support young people and promote communion long after each World Youth Day concludes.
Through the power of authentic media coverage, the website seeks to inspire, educate, and connect young people worldwide, fostering a sense of solidarity and hope.
“Our website wants to remind the world that everything is connected,” he said.
The enduring spirit of WYD
Finally, Mr. Dario Mobini stressed that WorldYouthDay.com stands as a testament to the meaningful impact of World Youth Days on young people’s lives and on their journey of faith.
With its commitment to preserving the Church’s messages and embracing the value of communion, the website has become an inspiration for Catholic youth worldwide, reflecting the spirit of World Youth Days and guiding young people to become authentic witnesses of Christ’s love in today’s world. – Vatican News
