Pilgrims attending World Youth Day 2011 will get a chance of “plenary indulgence,” which means the reduction or elimination of “temporal punishment,” of sins. To achieve this, the pilgrims should go to confession and receive communion seven days before or after World Youth Day. They'll also have to pray for the Pope's intentions.

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On August 19, World Youth Day is planning on celebrating the Stations of the Cross in Madrid. All 14 stations will represent and honor the Passion of Christ. Watch this video for more information, and for a sneak peak at some of the features for the Stations of the Cross for WYD 2011!

Sr. Kristen is a young religious of the Siervas del Hogar de la Madre community, and is the webmaster of the WYD website, madrid11.com. She will be speaking at iCat and invites you all to meet her there!

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On Wednesday, August 17, Madrid’s “Calle Fuencarral” will be all decked out, red carpet included, to host a day of cinema, which World Youth Day Madrid 2011 will offer to all the world’s young people. During the day, there will be a wide array of screenings, meetings, debates, a film soundtracks concert outdoors, and even a world premiere! Visit this article to read more.

Just days before World Youth Day 2011 kicks off, Pope Benedict XVI sends his greetings to all youths getting ready for the big event in Madrid: "My special greeting goes to the young people en route to World Youth Day in Madrid!!

Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela of Madrid, Spain expressed thanks to World Youth Day volunteers for their hard work and asked them to pray that it would not be “too hot” next week for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the city. The cardinal made his remarks during a Aug. 9 Mass at the World Youth Day central office to welcome the thousands of international volunteers beginning to arrive in Madrid this week.

Watch this video for the latest news from the WYD office in Madrid - including updates on how to identify volunteers, the WYD phone apps that will be available, and how to access your accomodation details.

At World Youth Day Madrid, they will be back, bigger and offering more variety than ever. The Knights of Columbus and the Sisters of Life, assisted by several other organizations, are offering English-speaking pilgrims at WYD a huge center where they can attend concerts, learn more about their Catholic faith, pray quietly, debate contemporary issues and access the Internet with free Wi-Fi.

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Roughly 1.5 million people are expected in this year's World Youth Day. But before that big event there's a smaller gathering leading up to the big one in Madrid. It's called MAGIS and it's organized by the Jesuit Order. Watch this video to find out more.

The WYD 'Cultural Program' - also known as the 'Youth Festival', is a great tradition which draws young people from around the world to share experiences from their lives and cultures.

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