VI Światowy Dzień Młodzieży Częstochowa ’91 Spotkanie Młodych Wschodu i Zachodu

Abstract

World Youth Day, which is a project of evangelization of John Paul II to the young people at the end of the Second and Third Millennium of Christianity, also has its place in Poland. It was held on 10 – 15 August 1991 at Jasna Gora in Czestochowa. John Paul II wanted it to have the special nature due to the time in which it was held: the victory of “Solidarity in Poland”, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the liberation of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe from the yoke of communism. That is why the Pope wanted to make it “the historic meeting between the youth of the Churches of the East and the West”. Responsibility for the organization of this historic event laid on the Church Organizing Committee of the Sixth World Youth Day, working together with provincial and municipal committees, and the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Vatican. This article presents a synthesis of the whole of the biggest organizational efforts of this committee, both at the initial stage (the basic concept of the organization), as well as at the stage of basic organizational work (the logistics of the operation, with particular emphasis on hosting young people from the East.) The course of 6th WYD in its essential points, as a specific result of organizational efforts, was also briefly discussed. In conclusion, the importance of the message that 6th WYD carries to the contemporary evangelizing mission of the Church, especially to young people, was highlighted.