Pope Francis believes that World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 has “exceeded all expectations” as it has presented itself as “a true and genuine experience of transfiguration, an explosion of light and joy.”
In the message for the XXXVIII World Youth Day (WYD), celebrated at diocesan level on November 26, the Day of Christ the King, and released this Tuesday by the Vatican, the Pope recalls that in August he gathered in Lisbon thousands of young people from all over the world, after the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the days of the pandemic, “amid many uncertainties, we cherished the hope that this great celebration of the encounter with Christ and with other young people could take place,” writes Francisco, adding: “This hope became reality and , for me and many of those present exceeded all expectations!”
“How wonderful our meeting in Lisbon was! A true and genuine experience of transfiguration, an explosion of light and joy!”, the Pope added, recalling that the next intercontinental WYD will take place in 2027 in Seoul, South Korea, and before that in 2025 in Rome the Youth Jubilee take place. The two moments were announced in Lisbon, during the last mass of WYD.
In his message for November 26, Pope Francis points to young people as “the joyful hope of a Church and a humanity always on the move.”
“I want to take you by the hand and walk with you on the path of hope. I want to speak to you of our joy and hope, but also of the sadness and fear of our hearts and of humanity that suffers,” writes the pope.
‘Joy in hope’ is the motto of this Youth Day, which is celebrated in all dioceses around the world.
In addition to the diocesan (annual) celebration, the Church promotes international editions of these days, such as those from August 1 to 6 in Lisbon, with more than 1.5 million participants in the final celebrations, presided over by Pope Francis, in Tagus Park.
Source: DN
