In light of every visit, the Holy Father sends young people a Message setting forth the path of preparation for the celebration and it becomes at the same time a sort of Catechesis for youth. Calling them to the encounter, he invites them to deepen their own walk of faith and to reflect on what brings life to them in body, mind and soul. It is a path of faith accomplished in time through particular circumstances but transcending day-to-day life in order to break open wide horizons and reveal the summits of existence. World Youth Day aims to unite the contemplative with the conquering.

It strives to foster a dedicated life of prayer alongside a constant effort to draw young people into a more active role in the new evangelization. Beyond that, it is necessary to highlight that by trying to create a renewed fervor in ecclesial action within young people does not mean that they should be isolated from the rest of the community. Instead it aims to make them protagonists of an invigorating apostolate in all the other ages and situations of life.

In this way we understand the true sense of the pilgrimage towards World Youth Day, which has a geographical summit and a prefixed date, but whose main objective is to lead us on the path towards the deepest comprehension of life and of God's project in it.

In the text for the XI World Youth Day (1996), the Pope announced the themes chosen up to the year 2000:

• 1997: “Master, where do you live? Come and See!” (John 1, 38-39)
• 1998: “The Holy Spirit will teach you all things” (John 14, 26)
• 1999: “The Father loves you” (John 16,27)
• 2000: “God became man and came to live amongst us” (John 1, 4)

World Youth Day is founded on some determining elements:

1. convocation
2. the Message of the Pope
3. the convergence on the place of celebration
4. the participation in moments of catechism which are developed in a triduum
5. the vigil with the Holy Father,
6. and the Eucharistic celebration.

All these components constitute a great catechism, an announcement to young people and to the world who are on the path of conversion to Christ, beginning with the profound experiences and questions of daily life of those who are attending. The Holy Father, above all others, is the Catechist, with his touching homilies, comments, gestures aimed at all the world; other catechists are also Cardinals and Bishops, who for three days speak and illustrate the fundamental themes of faith to different linguistic groups. The Word of God is central to this, the theological reflection is an instrument, prayer is a support, and communication and dialogue are the styles.