The Pontifical Council for the Laity and WYD08 Organisers unveiled the WYD08 logo for the first time in Rome on 8 April. The audience: youth delegates from all over the world at the International Gathering of World Youth Day Organisers.
The reaction was a mixture of delight, excitement and a sense that WYD08 is well on the way.
The concepts behind the WYD08 logo
The logo distils the essence of the theme for WYD08:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).
It highlights the promise made by Jesus to set fire upon the Earth by the power of the Holy Spirit which inspires the Pilgrims who come to Australia, to believe and witness to Him.
Central to the logo is the Cross raised in victory, representing Christ and the life of witness which the Holy Spirit enables. It is the passion of the heart of Christ, poured out into the world from the Cross, which consumes the young people of Sydney, of Australia and of the world. The whiteness of the Cross indicates that Jesus is the light of the world.
The flames of the logo represent the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in tongues of fire. They evoke the Sacrament of Confirmation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The colours of red, orange and yellow flowing throughout symbolise the Trinity and Unity of God. They also bring to mind the colours of the Australian outback.
The blue of the logo represents the oceans that surround Australia, the waters of Baptism, the sea of humanity and Mary, full of grace.
The Opera House is the symbol of Sydney, the host city for World Youth Day 2008.
The process of design: Australian youth assisting design professionals
The WYD08 team briefed four professional design companies to develop ideas for the official logo. A comprehensive brief outlining the theme and spiritual context for WYD08 provided the designers with inspiration. The task was not easy – to bring together key elements of the theme, tying in the Church in Australia, the WYD08 event, youth and Sydney.
And the designers had some help!
‘help to inspire the official WYD design team as they evolve the official logo’
This was the invitation made by Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, Co-Ordinator of World Youth Day 2008 to the wider Catholic community in Australia. Guided by the design brief, students throughout the Australian Catholic School system and parishioners across Australia sent in their suggestions, drawings, paintings and creative words.
The designers of the 3 entries judged best were each to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Rome to be part of the delegation to receive the WYD Cross + Icon from the youth of Germany in April 2006.
But the decision was too difficult…ultimately 4 winners were selected, and 4 young Australians are part of the delegation to Rome: they are:
Sarah from New South Wales Aidan from Victoria Kathryn from Queensland Christopher from New South Wales
"The result" said Bishop Fisher "is a true reflection of the Holy Spirit and its power to guide the youth, and all Catholics in the practice of our faith."
And so the WYD08 logo emerged... the result is a wonderful representation of the spirit of World Youth Day 2008 and of Sydney, its host.