This year Madrid will play host to hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world who will be attending World Youth Day (WYD) this August. World Youth Day kicks off at around 8pm on August 16th with a Mass in Madrid’s Cibeles Square which will be presided over by the Archbishop of Madrid and concelebrated by the bishops and priests who are taking part in WYD.

Plaza de Cibeles, in Madrid’s downtown area, will host three of the four main events during WYD. These events are the Opening Mass on the 16th August, the Papal Welcoming Ceremony on the 18th and the Stations of the Cross on the 19th. The Plaza de Cibeles provides an amazing backdrop for the centuries-old buildings that

Plaza de Cibeles

 surround it.

Pope Benedict XVI will arrive on the 18th August when he will be welcomed by the city council and the mayor of Madrid who will present him with the keys to the city. He will then travel with 50 young people representing every continent to the centuries old Puerta de Alcala. After passing through the Puerta de Alcala the Pope will be received with a performance by 6 Andalusian horses of Alvaro Domecq. After the performance the Pope will then travel in his popemobile through the streets lined with young people to the City Hall where a stage has been set up for the Welcoming Ceremony to be held.

On the 19th August the Stations of the Cross will tour the Paseo de Recoletos, from Plaza de Colon to Plaza de Cibeles, where the Pope will preside over the act. The event will feature 15 carvings from the Spanish Holy Week processions. The Pope will also visit the Monastery of El Escorial where he

Monastery of El Escorial

will meet with young religious sisters in ‘Patio de los Reyes’ and with young college professors in the Basilica.

Several events will take place on the 20th August including a Mass for seminarians in the Cathedral of La Almundena, a visit by the Pope to Fundacion Instituto San Jose which is a centre for the sick run by the Hospitaller Order of St John of God and a vigil with the Pope at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome.

The final day will see the Pope celebrate Mass at Cuatro Vientos with thousands of bishops, priests and people of all ages. The Pope will have a short meeting with the WYD volunteers before attending a brief Farewell Ceremony at Barajas Airport.

Apart from the main WYD events there will be many more activities including exhibitions, concerts, plays and guided museum tours. To join this event last minute holidays are available to Spain throughout the year.

If you are looking for transport and accommodation during World Youth Day there are always lots of package holidays to Madrid available throughout the internet.