World Youth Day is an antidote against indifference, isolation and lethargy, Pope Francis said. Since World Youth Days were established by St. John Paul II in 1985, “they have involved, moved, stirred and challenged generations of women and men,” he said in the preface of a new book, “A Long Journey to Lisbon,” by Aura Miguel, a Portuguese journalist for Rádio Renascença. Vatican News published the preface May 2.
Planning WYD is “like organizing the Olympics, only with a bigger audience and one absolutely important VIP guest.
In a video message to the 400,000 participants registered for World Youth Day 2023, the pope encouraged young people not to “put up walls” that close them in but to “thirst for the horizon” that makes them grow.
In an interview with The Central Minnesota Catholic, the former Rome bureau chief of Catholic News Service talks about his memories of the retired pope and his impact on the future of the papacy.
“Be the critical conscience of society. Don’t be afraid to criticize. We need your criticism,” Pope Francis said during Mass on the feast of Christ the King Nov. 21 in St. Peter’s Basilica, where he directed much of his homily to the world’s young people.
In a document published by the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life May 18, the Vatican issued a set of pastoral guidelines for local WYD celebrations.
World Youth Day organizers released the winning theme song for the international gathering in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2023.
Pope Francis’ decision to move the local celebrations of World Youth Day from Palm Sunday to the feast of Christ the King addresses the pastoral needs of local churches.
