On this Totus2us podcast, young people talk about their experiences at a WYD / JMJ. Plus there's JPII's Letter to his 'dear young people' and the annual WYD / JMJ messages from our Holy Father. In 1978 the new Pope John Paul II said to the young people in St Peter's square: "You are the hope of the Church and of the world. You are my hope." Blessed John Paul II repeated these words many times, both at the gatherings of young people on his pilgrim journeys and in particular at World Youth Days, which had their beginnings in 1984 when JPII held an International Youth Meeting in St Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, and a week later on Easter Sunday entrusted young people with the Cross. This simple wooden Cross has been carried round the world by young people since. 1985 was declared an "International Year for Youth" by the UN; John Paul II wrote his Apostolic Letter Dilecti Amici to the youth of the world and in December announced the institution of World Youth Day. WYD / JMJ / GMG has been