World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon

The Latest

A view of the crowd and nearby waterfront at the opening Mass for World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal on Aug. 1, 2023.

How life has changed for the girl who recovered her sight at 2023 World Youth Day

May 18, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Jimena is the young woman who regained her sight after receiving Communion at a Mass during World Youth Day in... Read more

Pope Francis waves at the crowd of 1.5 million people who attended the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal on Aug. 6, 2023.

What countries did Pope Francis visit in 2023 and what did he say?

Dec 30, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Despite advanced age and health challenges, the pope visited six countries on three continents in 2023. Read more

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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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

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

Cardinal Manuel Clemente, the Patriarch of Lisbon, greets attendees of World Youth Day at the opening Mass on Aug. 1, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Pope Francis names new patriarch of Lisbon following World Youth Day

Aug 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on Aug. 10 also accepted the resignation of Cardinal-Patriarch Manuel Clemente, who has led the patriarchate since May... 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

Pope Francis smiles at pilgrims during his Wednesday general audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Aug. 9, 2023.

Pope Francis: Mary ‘never keeps us waiting’

Aug 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said he likes to invoke the Virgin Mary under the title of “Our Lady ‘in haste’” because of... 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

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 addresses reporters on Aug. 6, 2023 aboard the papal flight on his return to Rome from his five-day trip to Portugal and World Youth Day.

Pope Francis explains why he skipped Fatima prayer for peace

During his in-flight press conference, the pope also spoke about his health, youth suicide, and access to the sacraments. 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

Pope Francis waves at the crowd of 1.5 million people who attended the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal on Aug. 6, 2023.

‘Be not afraid,’ Pope Francis tells young people at end of World Youth Day

Aug 6, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I tell you something very beautiful: It is no longer me, it is Jesus himself who is looking at you... Read more

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