The next WYD has been announced. Taking place in Seoul, South Korea, WYD 2027 will be the first to take place in on mainland Asia. Korea has a growing Catholic population of about 11 percent, or 6 million believers.
Pope Francis has also announced the Jubilee of Youth in Rome 2025 for the interim.
During the commissioning mass of August 6th, Pope Francis said to the young people present:
"Jesus himself is looking at you now, he who knows you and reads your innermost being; he looks into your heart, he knows your joys and sorrows, your successes and defeats. And he says to you today, here in Lisbon, at this World Youth Day: 'Do not be afraid! Do not be afraid! Be encouraged!'".
For the full text of his commissioning homily, look here!
Tonight, August 5th, marks the vigil in the Campo da Graca for WYD, pilgrims will enjoy festivities and spend the night in anticipation of the commissioning mass tomorrow. Tomorrow is the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, where Christ was revealed as the Son of God to His disciples.
The commissioning mass marks the final big activity of World Youth Day Lisbon, encouraging all in attendance to bring the flame sparked by the last few days back with them to their home countries.
Today, August 4th, marks the final day of the City of Joy at WYD Lisbon. The City of Joy is a cornerstone of World Youth Day, featuring Reconciliation Park, where confessions can be heard for nearly the whole day (with Pope Francis himself administering the Sacrament yesterday) and a Vocations Fair. The Vocations Fair included an array of talks and testimonies to excite the callings of those in attendance.
Pope Francis has finished leading the Stations of the Cross in Lisbon. In commemoration of the Passion, the Stations of the Cross is a popular devotion of Our Lord's Crucifixion.
The Pope said to those present, "Jesus walks, but the way that is most engraved in our hearts is the way of Calvary, the way of the cross. And today you go with prayer, we, me too, with prayer to renew the way of the cross. And let us look at Jesus who is passing by and let us walk with him."
Cardinal-Patriarch Manuel Clemente has officially welcomed Pope Francis to Lisbon.
The Pope has already been a part of several events and activities in anticipation of the closing mass on August 6th. He has participated in the completion of mural, has delivered an address to students of the Catholic University of Lisbon, and spoken with priests, religious, and pastoral workers.
On August 1st, Cardinal Manuel Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon, celebrated the welcoming mass and gave his homily to all those gathered in the Colina do Encontro.
During his homily, Cardinal Clemente told young people, "Mary carried in her womb the 'blessed fruit' that was Jesus. Christians also carry Him, spiritually and actually because they receive Him in the Word, the sacraments, and in charity, where He offers Himself. Since we believe in Jesus as a path to God, we walk with Him to bring Him to others. With the same impulse that led Mary, in the same Spirit that leads us, let us head out!"
For the full text of his homily and a recording of it, follow this link to the official WYD 2023 website.
World Youth Day has begun! From August 1st to August 6th, Lisbon will be packed full of events for pilgrims from all over the world to attend. July 31st marked the end of a series of events known as "Days in the Diocese", pilgrims who attended these events and pilgrims arriving for the week itself have now gathered in Lisbon in fraternity to celebrate all they have in common in Christ.
On the eve of the thirtieth anniversary of the first World Youth Day in North America (in Denver in August 1993), we talk with Dana Scallon, who wrote and sang the theme song for WYD 1993, “We Are One Body.” Dana shares her experiences leading up to...
Over 1,300 groups comprised of more than 28,600 individuals from across the United States, will travel to Lisbon, Portugal, for the thirty-seventh World Youth Day (WYD) gathering with Pope Francis.
Feel the Rush in the Air! The Official English Version of the song for WYD 2023, translated from the original Portuguese. Available on most music services (Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, etc.) via this link.
Special USA Chapel and Drop-In Site
Igreja de São José dos Carpinteiros (Parish Church of St. Joseph of the Carpenters). Located adjacent to the Avenida Liberdade and the WYD Central Events
Open to USA Pilgrims: Sunday, July 30, through Friday, August 5, 2023. 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., local time, each day, subject to change. Special Prayer Service each night (except 8/2) at 9:00 p.m. All are welcome.
This parish church is available to all U.S. pilgrims to stop by, rest, and pray. Take a moment to refresh yourself amidst the busy WYD week. Join the U.S. bishops each evening at 9:00 p.m. for a special prayer service to close the night. Space is limited. Please note that, at some occasions, some U.S. groups will have special liturgies or gatherings in the church; please be respectful if one is happening upon your arrival and speak to a volunteer or staff for details on the next availability.
A Special Intercultural Event during the WYD Youth Festival on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. local time at Museu Nacional dos Coches, Lisbon - (National Coach Museum).
Bishops, young adults, and ministry leaders from the United States will lead a special intercultural and interactive dialogue event, inspired by the USCCB Journeying Together process. All U.S. pilgrims are welcome to engage in this synodal experience, subject to space availability. The program will feature ways to engage in dialogue with other young people, reflecting the great diversity of cultures from and within countries around the world – and learn how to take this process home with you, too.
Join the WYDUSA office for the last preparatory webinar before World You Day Lisbon! RSVP to attend this webinar to get answers to all your final questions!
Webinar takes place Tuesday July 11th at 3pm ET, 2pm CT, 1pm MT, 12pm PT, 11am ATK, and 9am HT.
The World Youth Day Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has announced that WYD 2023 in Lisbon will take place Tuesday to Sunday, August 1 to 6, 2023 (concluding with the feast of the Transfiguration). More information about this World Youth Day news can be found at the official WYD website in English, available at this link.
OCTOBER 8, 2021, WASHINGTON DC - Lisbon, Portugal will be the host of the next international World Youth Day (WYD), from August 1 to 6, 2023. Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, and Bishop Edward J. Burns of Dallas, the USCCB’s episcopal liaison to World Youth Day, released a statement expressing solidarity with Pope Francis and the universal Church as anticipation builds for the major international event.
“We are overjoyed to now have the dates we can look forward to when millions of people will come together and join the Holy Father for World Youth Day in Lisbon in August 2023.
“We hope that many from the U.S. will participate, and we invite all youth and young adults – in fact, every person age 16 to 35 in the United States – to join us. Whether you plan to travel to Lisbon, participate through digital media, or join your peers at one of many local celebrations taking place in dioceses across the country, we want you to be part of this moment in the life of the Church.
“It is providential that the WYD Mass with the Holy Father will take place on the feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 2023. The experience of Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration was a pivotal moment of transformation for them. We hope that WYD will have a similar impact on young people today, no matter where or how they make this pilgrimage to celebrate this special international festival of faith.”
See the media release on this statement at this link here.
On November 18, 2020, ten young people from Portugal arrived at the Vatican to accept the World Youth Day Cross and the Icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani from Pope Francis during mass celebrating the Feast of Christ the King. Read more here.
Our Lady of the Visitation, you who left in haste towards the mountain to meet Elizabeth, lead us also to meet all those who await us to deliver them the living Gospel: Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord! We will go in a hurry, with no distraction or delay, but with readiness and joy. We will go peacefully, because those who take Christ take peace, and well doing is the best wellbeing. Our Lady of the Visitation, with your inspiration, this World Youth Day will be the mutual celebration of the Christ we take, as You once did. Make it a time of testimony and sharing, fraternization, and giving thanks, each of us looking for the others who always wait. With you, we will continue on this path of gathering, so that our world will gather as well, in fraternity, justice and peace. Help us, Our Lady of the Visitation, to bring Christ to everyone, obeying the Father, in the love of the Spirit!
On Wednesday, January 27th, the official theme song for World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 was released. The song is entitled "Há Pressa no Ar” inspired by the theme for World Youth Day 2023. “Há Pressa no Ar” has lyrics by João Paulo Vaz, a priest, and music by Pedro Ferreira, teacher, and musician, both from the Diocese of Coimbra, in the centre region of Portugal. The arrangements were made by the musician Carlos Garcia.
Two versions of the song were. recorded: one in Portuguese and one international version that is sung in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, and Italian. The idea behind the song is that young people will identify with Mary to serve and transform the world)
Listen to the Official Theme Song here (English)
Listen to the Official Theme Song here (Portuguese)
You can visit it here (at www.lisboa2023.org) for information regarding the international celebration in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2023. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, the official dates of World Youth Day 2020 will not be announced until more details about the pandemic and the vaccine are understood. The organizers anticipate being able to release the date sometime in 2021.