WYD

The Latest

Edoardo Santini.

Italy’s ‘most handsome man’ leaves modeling career to become a priest

Edoardo Santini, considered “the most handsome man in Italy,” has decided to leave his promising career as a model and... Read more

Pope Francis speaks about World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, during his weekly Wednesday audience in the Paul VI Hall Aug. 9, 2023.

Pope Francis laments when ‘ideology replaces faith’ in segment of U.S. Catholics

Aug 28, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope’s private conversation with members of the Society of Jesus was published Aug. 28 by the Jesuit journal La... Read more

The Love family, along with Father Andrew St. Hilaire, enjoy their last meal at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.

Catholic family of 10 returns home after pilgrimage to World Youth Day and Spain

Aug 26, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Going on a pilgrimage usually brings highs and lows, but the Love family encourages other families to participate in future... Read more

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Pope calls grieving mother of son who died at WYD: ‘He comforted me as if he were my dad’

Aug 19, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

Pope Francis called the mother of a young man, Luca Re Sartù, 24, who has passed away after apparently contracting... Read more

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Faith meets ecology: Rosaries made from ocean plastic shine at World Youth Day

Aug 18, 2023

By AC Wimmer

Pilgrims from Vancouver, British Columbia, handed out rosaries crafted from recycled ocean plastic to attendees of World Youth Day in... Read more

Bishop Robert Barron speaks to tens of thousands of young people at a World Youth Day gathering in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 2, 2023. The event, hosted by the U.S. bishops’ conference, culminated in a eucharistic procession and Holy Hour.

Word on Fire’s Bishop Barron: ‘We’ve dumbed down the faith too much for too long’

Aug 16, 2023

By Buchi Akpati

The bishop of the Winona-Rochester Diocese told EWTN Vatican’s Colm Flynn in Lisbon, Portugal, that young people “want something clear.” Read more

Marina Aleykseyeva, 31, from Kiev, Ukraine, (second from left with a pink baseball cap), together with fellow pilgrims from Ukraine, attended World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 1–6, 2023. She said they traveled to the international gathering to pray for peace in their country.

Ukrainian Catholics receive warm reception at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon

Aug 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Marina Aleykseyeva, a Ukrainian pilgrim, said “it was unbelievable” how many people stopped them on the streets to say they... Read more

A group of South Koreans pray at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The challenges facing South Korea in organizing the next World Youth Day

Aug 12, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

One priest says that being designated the site of the next WYD is an opportunity “to spread faith in Christ”... Read more

The Radha Krishna Temple outside of Lisbon held one-hour tours for WYD pilgrims to learn more about what Hindus believe.

Interreligious events at World Youth Day in Lisbon sparsely attended but ‘useful’

Aug 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Last week at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, pilgrims had opportunities to learn from and dialogue with people of... Read more

Brad and Chanel Moran, from Dallas, in Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day 2023.

U.S. pilgrims reflect on World Youth Day experience: a ‘small taste’ of heaven

Aug 9, 2023

By Jonah McKeown, Joe Bukuras

CNA spoke to young adults about their experiences of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, last week. Read more

Luke and Tina Nguyen of Seattle with their 14-month-old son, Finn, after the prayer vigil with Pope Francis at Parque Tejo Aug. 5, 2023. The young family attended World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

‘Definitely worth it’: Family attends World Youth Day 2023 with 1-year-old son

Aug 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

A young couple from Seattle braved the long flights and big crowds to experience World Youth Day in Lisbon with... Read more

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Father of girl reportedly cured of blindness says it was ‘a gift of the Virgin to WYD’

On Saturday, Aug. 5, in Fátima, Portugal, Jimena said she was cured of a serious eye problem after a novena... Read more

Our Lady of Fatima statue in Fatima, Portugal.

Miracle at Fátima? World Youth Day pilgrim receives her sight after Communion at Mass

“I opened my eyes and I could see perfectly,” said Jimena, a 16-year-old Spanish World Youth Day pilgrim. Read more

An estimated 200,000 people attended the pope's rosary in Fatima, Portugal, on Aug. 5, 2023.

10 of the most touching moments of World Youth Day 2023

Aug 7, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

There were so many beautiful moments during WYD in Lisbon. Here are some of the most memorable that may continue... Read more

Francisco Velarde, a 21-year-old Spaniard, was one of the young people who had the privilege of going to confession with Pope Francis on Friday, Aug. 4, at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.

Young man after confession with the pope: ‘I told him the sins that pain me the most’

The 21-year-old Spaniard told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, the details of what he considers “the confession of my... Read more

Pope Francis takes selfies with volunteers after closing Mass for WYD2023 in Lisbon, Aug 6, 2023.

After closing Mass, pope ends World Youth Day trip by meeting volunteers to say thanks

Aug 6, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

After celebrating Mass for WYD 2023 with an estimated 1.5 million pilgrims in Lisbon, the pope thanked the many volunteers... Read more

Archbishop Timothy Broglio speaks to young people about adoration and pondering during a Rise Up Encounter at the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation in Lisbon, Portugal on Aug. 4, 2023.

New World Youth Day ‘Rise Up’ catechesis receives mixed reviews  

Aug 5, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The World Youth Day gathering in Lisbon, Portugal, this week debuted a new model of catechesis sessions aimed at listening... Read more

Speaking from World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, the “City of Joy,” a Iesu Communio (Communion in Jesus) sister shares her vocation story with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.

Religious sister tells how she discovered her vocation at a WYD thanks to Benedict XVI

The sister related that Pope Benedict XVI spoke “of the Eucharist as a ‘kiss’ and of adoration as a prostration... Read more

From left to right: Sister Mary Grace of the Sorrowful, Sister Mariana of the Wounds of Jesus, the Mother Superior Alma Ruth, and Sister Mary Magdalene of the Sacred Heart.

These cloistered nuns who never leave the convent are at WYD for the first time

Aug 4, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

They never (or almost never) leave the convent, but one lively group of cloistered nuns is participating for the first... Read more

The Love family at the Sanctuary of Fatima in Portugal, during WYD 2023.

Maryland family of 10 is making the most of their first World Youth Day

Aug 4, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Members of the Love family have immersed themselves in WYD 2023 festivities and say their large family has been “treated... Read more