A wave of spiritual fervor swept through the Chattogram Archdiocese in Bangladesh as hundreds of Christians gathered to welcome the World Youth Cross, a humble wooden cross that has become a global symbol of faith, unity, and God’s enduring love for humanity.
The cross arrived in the archdiocese on April 6.
The archdiocese came alive with heartfelt prayers, solemn worship, and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, as believers, young and old, came together in reverence.
The World Youth Cross, though physically simple, holds a profound legacy. Pope John Paul II first introduced it during the Jubilee Year of Redemption at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in 1983. A year later, he entrusted the cross to the youth of the world with a mission: “Carry it throughout the world and bear witness to the love of Christ.”
This mission has turned into a decades-long pilgrimage, with the cross traveling from continent to continent, carrying the message of hope and renewal. For millions, it has been a beacon in times of darkness, a sign that through Christ’s sacrifice, redemption is possible. What was once an instrument of excruciating death has, through faith, become a vessel of divine glory and healing.
In Chattogram, as in the other dioceses in Bangladesh it has visited, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, and Dhaka, the cross was welcomed with great solemnity and devotion.
Young people, in particular, gathered in large numbers, drawn by its message of courage, resilience, and faith in a better world. Alongside the cross travels an image of Mother Mary, symbolizing her unwavering strength and presence at the foot of the cross. Her maternal support, believed to empower youth across nations, inspires them to carry their crosses with perseverance and trust in God's plan.
This visit marks a historic moment for the Church in Bangladesh, the first time the World Youth Cross has reached its soil.
As Asia prepares to host the next World Youth Day in Korea in 2027, this pilgrimage underscores the continent’s growing importance in the global Catholic community.
The cross, after completing its journey in Chattogram, will continue its path to Japan, touching more youth hearts along the way.
For the faithful in Bangladesh, the meeting was more than an event, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a sacred symbol of global unity and divine love. Many who attended expressed, "This cross has not only visited us, but it has left a light within us."
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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