The Diocese of Antipolo in the Philippines has warmly welcomed the World Youth Day (WYD) symbols, which are currently on pilgrimage across the National Capital Region.
Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos of Antipolo described the visit of the WYD Pilgrim Cross and the image of Salus Populi Romani as a grace-filled moment for the diocese, enriching the spirit of pilgrimage and deepening the faith of the people.
He emphasized that these symbols serve as a powerful reminder, especially for the youth, to become bearers of the Good News in their communities.
Santos believes that this grace-filled occasion is not only a blessing upon the local church but also a profound reminder of the global unity that every Catholic is a family.
He added, “They come to us as heralds of encounter, mission, and courage, carrying the heartbeat of millions of young people from every corner of the world who seek deeper communion with Christ and His Church.”
Currently, the WYD symbols are visiting dioceses in Metro Manila as part of the final stretch of their pilgrimage in the Philippines.
On June 20, the symbols visited the dioceses of Antipolo, Parañaque, and Novaliches.
Santos expressed hope that the symbols’ presence would inspire the youth to reflect more deeply on their vocations within their communities.
“May this sacred pilgrimage through the National Capital Region and into our beloved diocese ignite the hearts of our youth, awaken new vocations, heal weary souls, and renew our mission to be true disciples of Christ in today’s world,” he said.
The prelate encouraged young people in the diocese to continue journeying together in faith and to fulfill their mission of following Christ.
He affirmed his support for the Christian communities of South Korea as they prepare to host World Youth Day in 2027.
He noted that this pilgrimage of the WYD symbols is part of the ongoing invitation for neighboring Asian countries to unite and participate in the global celebration of youth in the coming years.
The theme of WYD 2027 is “Take courage! I have overcome the world,” taken from the Gospel of John, chapter 16, verse 33.
Earlier, the National Capital Region Youth Coordinating Council called on the faithful to join in the final leg of the pilgrimage before the WYD symbols are handed over by the Archdiocese of Seoul to representatives in Taiwan.
The schedule of the WYD Symbols Pilgrimage in the Philippines includes visits to the Diocese of Antipolo, Parañaque, and Novaliches on June 20; the Diocese of Cubao and Pasig on June 21; the Diocese of Kalookan on June 22; and the Archdiocese of Manila on June 23.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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