Pope Benedict XVI receives World Youth Day backpack

Rome, Italy, Feb 17, 2011 / 11:05 am

Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela of Madrid, Spain recently presented Pope Benedict XVI with an official World Youth Day 2011 backpack.

World Youth Day will be held August 16 – 21 in Madrid, the capital of Spain.

Cardinal Rouco Varela gave the backpack to the Pope during an audience on Feb. 14. As they met in the private library of the apostolic palace, the cardinal updated Benedict XVI on the latest arrangements for World Youth Day.

Those who attend the events will receive the red and yellow backpack. Inside the young Catholics will find a Rosary, the pilgrim’s book, a guide and a copy of “Youcat,” a catechism designed specifically for young people. The book includes a prologue written by Benedict XVI himself.

The backpack will also contain a transportation voucher, a hat and a hand fan. 

World Youth Day attendees will also have priority access to the cultural events and the main celebrations in the city, as well as accident insurance that will cover them throughout the week.

The logo on the backpack was designed by Jose Gil-Nogues. He explained that it symbolizes “young people from all over the world joining together to celebrate their faith together with the Pope, at the foot of the cross.”

He added that the young people on the logo form the “crown that Our Lady of Almudena, Patroness of Madrid, wears.”