For the next three years, with a path that will lead to the 2019 World Youth Day in Panama, the Holy Father wants to present the Virgin Mary to young people as a model of an accomplished life. As we know, the Mother of the Lord is the one whom all generations will call blessed (cf. Lk 1:49).

The theme chosen for the 32nd World Youth Day, which will be celebrated locally in 2017 on Palm Sunday, are the words of the Canticle of the Magnificat "The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name" (Lk 1:49).

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God" (Lk 1:30) is the theme for the 33rd World Youth Day, to be celebrated in 2018.

The 34th World Youth Day, which will be celebrated in Panama in 2019, will be on the theme: "I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" (Lk 1:38)

In the speech prepared for the meeting with the WYD volunteers in Krakow, Pope Francis highlighted the attitudes of Jesus' Mother and described her as a model to be imitated. Then, speaking informally on that occasion, the Holy Father urged the young to recall the past, have courage for the present, and to have/be hope for the future.

The three themes announced thus aim to give the spiritual journey toward the next World Youth Days a strong Marian connotation, while recalling the image of the young on a journey leading from the past (2017), through the present (2018) and to the future (2019), and animated by the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity.

The path proposed to the young is also visibly in harmony with the reflection that Pope has entrusted to the next Synod of Bishops: Young People, Faith and Vocational D