World Youth Day

The Latest

Pilgrims from South Korea wave a flag at Mass with Pope Francis for the closing of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon on Aug. 6, 2023.

Next World Youth Day to be in South Korea in 2027

Aug 6, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The announcement was made at the end of the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. 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

Young people participate in Stations of the Cross at World Youth Day in Eduardo VII Park in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 4, 2023.

Pope Francis at WYD Stations of the Cross: ‘Jesus wipes away our hidden tears’

Aug 4, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope’s meditations connected Christ’s sufferings to wounds that young people experience today. Read more

Pope Francis hears the confession of a young pilgrim at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 4, 2023.

Pope Francis hears young people’s confessions in Lisbon

Aug 4, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis on Friday heard the confessions of three young people in the Jardim Vasco da Gama, renamed Reconciliation Park... Read more

Spanish Carmelite Pablo María de la Cruz on the day of his religious profession.

Pope receives posthumous letter from young Carmelite who wanted to attend WYD

Aug 4, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

In the letter, Pablo María de la Cruz expressed to the pope his desire to have participated in WYD in... Read more

Pope Francis makes his way past crowds of thousands on his way to the World Youth Day welcoming ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 3, 2023.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis’ first World Youth Day speech, ‘God’s heart beats uniquely for you’

Approximately 500,000 people celebrated Pope Francis’ arrival at World Youth Day. Read more

Pope Francis and José María Del Corral, president of the Scholas Occurrentes youth movement, smile during a meeting with the group's volunteers in Cascais, Portugal, on Aug. 3, 2023.

‘Attend to the planet and poor,’ Pope Francis urges college students

Aug 3, 2023

By Shannon Mullen

Pope Francis began his second day in Portugal with a meeting with Catholic students and members of an educational youth... 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.

‘Preach the real Christ,’ Bishop Barron tells thousands of U.S. youth at WYD

Aug 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

In his speech, Bishop Robert Barron emphasized that every person has a unique mission from God and that money or... Read more

Justina, a young Korean woman who was recently baptized and entered the Catholic Church, explained that she decided to participate in World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon “for many reasons. But I really wanted to see the pope.”

Recently baptized Korean woman comes to WYD to get to know Catholic community

“It’s just so amazing to see all the Catholic youth from all over the world gathered here together through the... Read more

Pope Francis participates in vespers at Jerónimos Monastery in Portugal, Aug. 2, 2023.

‘Sail boldly into sea of evangelization,’ pope tells clergy, religious in Lisbon

Aug 2, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The Holy Father encouraged Church leaders in Portugal to overcome discouragement by spending time in adoration. Read more

James Nyumah, 23, from Liberia, (pictured third from left) hangs out with new friends from Australia while attending a "Rise Up" session at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, on Aug. 2, 2023.

Pilgrims from Liberia overcome travel troubles to attend WYD: ‘Being here is a miracle’

Aug 2, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Father Ernest Wisner and his small group from Liberia finally arrived at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, after having... Read more

Spanish pilgrims at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, July 31, 2023.

WYD: High turnout of Spanish youth signals faith alive in increasingly secular country

During the days prior to the start of this long-awaited event, the presence of Spanish youth was noticed throughout the... Read more

Hundreds of thousands of people attended the opening Mass for World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, on Aug. 1, 2023.

World Youth Day 2023: Lisbon patriarch greets attendees at opening Mass

Aug 1, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

World Youth Day 2023 kicked off in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 1 with an opening Mass attended by hundreds of thousands... Read more

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As World Youth Day kicks off, ACN champions cause of persecuted Christians worldwide

Aug 1, 2023

By AC Wimmer

The aim is to encourage pilgrims and participants to actively support the suffering Church in their own countries. Read more

Pope Francis addresses the crowd in St. Peter’s Square in his Sunday Angelus on July 16, 2023.

This is Pope Francis’ prayer intention for August 2023

Aug 1, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

The pope’s prayer intention this month is for World Youth Day 2023, which is being held this week in Lisbon,... Read more

Participants at World Youth Day 2023 in in Lisbon, Portugal.

World Youth Day: 96% of pilgrims think gatherings contribute to evangelization

Jul 31, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Among the motivations for attending the international meeting with the pope is “encountering Jesus Christ” followed by “living new experiences.” Read more

Daiane Silva Pereira, 29, has been to every World Youth Day that Pope Francis has attended. Each of them played an important role in her discernment of religious life and now she's in Lisbon for WYD 2023 as a member of the religious community Comunidade Canção Nova.

Brazilian missionary developed her vocation by following Pope Francis’ WYD events

Jul 31, 2023

By ACI Digital

Daiane Silva Pereira has been to three World Youth Days and is now at WYD Lisbon with members of her... Read more

Outdoor Mass with the WYD Lisbon 2023 volunteers as they prepare for World Youth Day to begin Aug 2.

8 unique things to know about World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon

Jul 30, 2023

By Clara Raimundo

As pilgrims stream into Portugal for World Youth Day in Lisbon, here’s a preview of some of the more interesting... Read more