Controversy has enflamed WYD preparations as conservative Catholics get the wrong end of the evangelisation story. Regardless of his impending cardinal appointment, Bishop Robert Barron has made it clear to Américo Aguiar that he intends to evangelise during his visit to Lisbon. Aguiar, a youthful 49-year-old auxiliary bishop of the Patriarchate of Lisbon, is the Read more
Bishop Steve Lowe will introduce Identity:Identified, the newest spiritual guide for youth, at the World Youth Day 2023 (WYD23) Pilgrims’ Commissioning Mass in Auckland on July 9th. The guide seeks to present Holy Scripture in an engaging manner to younger individuals who may not typically engage with the Bible. The guide, a brainchild of the Read more
Preparations for World Youth Day – WYD 2023 – in Lisbon resumed on Saturday, marking the beginning of the new pastoral year. According to Archbishop Américo Aguiar, auxiliary bishop of Lisbon and president of the “WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation”, Pope Francis is following the preparations for World Youth Day “quietly” and with “excitement.” Last Wednesday, Read more
Gay and transgender Christians are to set up an unofficial ministry for World Youth Day in Poland later this month. Leaders of the Warsaw-based “Faith and Rainbow” LGBT organisation say they want to minister to the thousands of gay, lesbian and transgender people attending the event. They will do this through an “LGBT Pilgrim’s Haven” Read more
John Paul II will become patron saint of World Youth Day. The announcement came from Pope Francis in his message for the 29th World Youth Day. “He will be the great patron of the World Youth Days which he inaugurated and always supported,” Pope Francis said. “In the communion of saints he will continue to Read more
Pope Francis is asking youth to prepare for 2016 World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland by reflecting on the Beatitudes. As Catholic dioceses around the world prepare for the international World Youth Day, the Holy Father is asking the dioceses in 2014, to reflect on Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is Read more
“Who’s the church?” “We are!” “Where’s the church?” “Right here!” “And?” “Everywhere!” The “youth animator” at the centre for English-speaking pilgrims in Rio de Janeiro was revving up the crowd of young adults, no small feat considering it was 9 o’clock in the morning. It was the Friday of World Youth Day, and attendees had Read more
My Facebook newsfeed in recent days has been filled with exciting stories and photos about World Youth Day (WYD)—which ended today with a Mass in Rio. Yet again, we have had some amazing quotes from Pope Francis on his visit to Brazil reminding us about the church’s social and ethical obligations towards the poor. However, Read more
Pope Francis has sent out three million World Youth Day participants to be missionaries — a task he said was mandatory, not optional. “Jesus is speaking to each one of us, saying: ‘It was wonderful to take part in World Youth Day, to live the faith together with young people from the four corners of Read more
As I watched, read and heard untold stories about the birth of a new member of the British royal family, who becomes the third in line to the throne, it was somewhat disappointing that the news overshadowed so markedly the news of Pope Francis’s arrival in Brazil for the start of World Youth Day festivities Read more