Archbishop José H. Gomez will bless pilgrims who are preparing to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland, to join millions of Catholics and Pope Francis in celebrating World Youth Day 2016.

World Youth Day will take place in and around Krakow from July 26-31, with Pope Francis leading events July 27-31, including a closing overnight vigil and Mass that is expected to draw as many as two million attendees from around the world.

Since Pope John Paul II launched World Youth Day thirty years ago, it’s become not just the Catholic Church’s biggest event, but also the world’s largest gathering of people. World Youth Day is a transformative pilgrimage experience targeting young people ages 16 to 35. 

World Youth Day offers hundreds of young people from the tri-county Archdiocese of Los Angeles an opportunity to deepen their faith as they celebrate their Catholic identity with peers from around the world.

The blessing of the WYD pilgrims will take place during 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, July 17, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles (555 W. Temple Street).

For more information visit http://www.la-archdiocese.org/events/wyd2016.