Pope Francis has decided that the next three World Youth Days will focus on Mary, on how she was always open to the Lord’s will and how she remains a role model to be imitated.

The Catholic Herald is reporting on the decision which will effect World Youth Day in 2017 and 2018, which will be celebrated in parishes, and the international gathering in Panama in 2019.

According to the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, the themes “are intended to give a clear Marian tone to the spiritual journey” of the next three World Youth Days as well as to “give a picture of young people on a journey between the past (2017), present (2018) and future (2019), inspired by the three theological virtues of faith, charity and hope.”

This year’s themes will be:

– For 2017: “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Lk 1:49).

– For 2018: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (Lk 1:30).

– For 2019: “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38).

This journey the Pope is proposing to young people coincides with the reflection the Pope “has entrusted to the next Synod of Bishops: Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment,” the Dicastery said.

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