Vatican City, Jun 22, 2019 / 03:31 am
At the conclusion of the International Youth Forum Saturday, Pope Francis announced the theme of World Youth Day 2022 to be held in Lisbon: "Mary arose and went with haste."
"Do not tune out the voice of God, who urges you to arise and follow the paths that he has prepared for you. Like Mary, and in union with her, may you daily bring to others all your joy and love," Pope Francis told the delegates of the International Youth Forum June 22.
Pope Francis said that he desires young people to reflect on this verse taken from St. Luke's Biblical account of the Virgin Mary's visitation to her cousin Elizabeth after the Annunciation, as well as two other Bible verses.
"In the two coming years, I would ask you to meditate on these two verses: 'Young man, I say to you, arise!' and 'Stand up. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen,'" the pope said in his meeting with the youth delegates at the Vatican's apostolic palace.