WYD Lisbon 2023 ended on August 6 with Pope Francis closing Mass. His Holiness sent all the attendees on their way with assurances that Jesus knows and loves them and has a plan for their lives.
Pope Francis told 1.5 million young people in Lisbon not to let their “great dreams” of changing the world be “stopped by fear.” “Let’s all repeat this phrase in our hearts: ‘Don’t be afraid,’” he told the crowd. “Jesus knows the hearts of each one of you, the successes and the failures, he knows your hearts,” Pope Francis said. “And today he tells you, here in Lisbon for this World Youth Day: ‘Don’t be afraid.’”
Pope Francis then announced that the World Youth Day 2027 will take place in Seoul, South Korea. Nevertheless, the Pope invited young people to travel to Rome for a youth celebration during the Holy Year 2025.
Now an extract of His Holiness homily:
After these exciting days, surely we feel like repeating the words of the Apostle Peter on the mount of the Transfiguration: “Lord, it is good for us to be here!” (Matthew 17:4). Now, we can also ask an important question: What will we take back with us as we resume our daily lives? What will we take back with us? I would respond with these three words: to shine, to listen, and to be unafraid.
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To Shine: Today we need something of a burst of light, so that it can fill us with hope as we face the many failures of each day and the darkness that assails us in life, and respond to them with the light of the resurrection of Jesus. For he is the light that never sets, the light that shines even in the dead of night. Yet, I would like to tell you, do not get the spotlight, for that type of light is blinding. We shine by welcoming Jesus into our hearts and learning to love as he does. To love like Jesus: that is what makes us shine, makes us do works of love.
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To Listen: To listen to Jesus, that is life’s secret. Listen to what Jesus is saying to you. If you don’t know what Jesus is saying to you, take the Gospels and read them, there you will find answers and your heart will be filled with His words. He has the words of eternal life for us, he reveals that God is our Father, that God is love. Listen to him in order not to take the wrong path.
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To be unafraid: You have great dreams, but often fear that they may not come true; sometimes you think that you are not up to the challenge, which is a kind of pessimism that can overcome us at times. As young people, you may be tempted at this time to lose heart, to think you fall short, or to disguise your pain with a smile.
Now, in a brief moment of silence, each of you repeat these words, in your own heart: “Do not be afraid!”
Dear young people, I would like to look into the eyes of each of you and say: Do not be afraid. I will tell you something else, also very beautiful: it is no longer I, but Jesus himself who is now looking at you. He knows each of your hearts, each of your lives; he knows your joys, your sorrows, your successes and failures. He knows your heart. Today, he says to you: “Have no fear, take heart, do not be afraid!”
