Pope Francis: World Youth Day shows us another world is possible

Screenshot ICN/JS

Source: Vatican Media

Pope Francis held his first General Audience after the July break on Wednesday, focussing on his recent visit to Portugal for World Youth Day. The event was held in the Pope Paul Vi Hall to provide some relief for pilgrims from the intense 30c+ summer heat.

"World Youth Day in Lisbon, after the pandemic, was felt by all to be a gift of God," he said.

The event was an encounter with the living Christ through the Church, "an encounter that makes one grow in faith and where many discover God's call," often "to marriage, to consecrated life, to the priesthood.

"For each and every person, it is the joy of discovering that they are called, by grace, to be part of the people of God, a different people ... sent to proclaim to all peoples the joyful Gospel of Christ: that God is Father and loves all His children."

In a special way, he recalled the Blessed Virgin's Mary's presence during these days, and throughout history. He especially recalled his time praying to her in Fatima, and her effectiveness whenever we speak to her. "Mary is everyone's mother; she never makes us wait," he said.

The Pope said he prayed at the site of the Apparitions, along with a group of young people who are ill, "that God will heal the world of the diseases of the soul," citing specifically "pride, lies, enmity, and violence."

"We renewed the consecration of ourselves, of Europe, of the world to the Heart of Mary, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I prayed for peace because there are so many wars from all parts of the world, so many."

The Pope praised the great numbers, faith, and enthusiasm of the young people, recalling, in a special way, that the young people of Ukraine brought with them a very sorrowful account, an experience quite different than other pilgrims.

The Holy Father suggested that they, like many of the young people, were present at the World Youth Day "to meet Christ."

"World Youth Day showed us another world is possible," he said - "one without fear, isolationism, and weapons."

The Holy Father prayed that the Blessed Virgin Mary may bless the young people of the world, and the Portuguese people, before leading everyone in praying a Hail Mary.

He also thanked all those involved in the organization of WYD and thanked young people who had traveled to Rome and were present at the General Audience.

Pope Francis' visit to Portugal was the first of three Apostolic Journeys he is making between August and September.

On 31 August to 4 September, he will travel to Mongolia, making him the first-ever Pope to travel there. Later on in the month, the Pope will spend two days in Marseille, France, for an encounter about migration in the Mediterranean.

LINKS

Watch the Audience on the Vatican YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuRDErupjso

Read the prepared text of Pope Francis address here: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/08/09/230809a.html