Archbishop José Gomez will bless nearly 100 pilgrims before their journey from Los Angeles to World Youth Day in Lisbon. This year’s event will mark the first iteration since the pandemic, and Pope Francis is scheduled to participate in several sessions. The journey will include teens, young adults, and adults, who will join approximately a quarter-million Catholics to celebrate the multi-day event from August 1-6.
The blessing by Archbishop Gomez will take place during a 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
“In these troubling times, when our human family is already dealing with the trauma of the pandemic and the tragedy of war, Mary shows us all, especially you, young people, the path of proximity and encounter,” said Pope Francis in a message to prospective attendees.
“I hope and firmly believe that the experience many of you will have in Lisbon in August will be a new beginning for you, the young, and for humanity as a whole.”
World Youth Day was established by Pope John Paul II in December 1985, with the first official celebration held in 1986. It has become one of the church’s biggest events and one of the largest gatherings of young people in the world.
The day offers a transformative pilgrimage experience, targeting individuals aged 16 to 35 and providing an opportunity for deepening one’s faith. One of the highlights will be a meeting on August 3 between the Pope and college students from the Catholic Portuguese University, followed by a meeting with young members of the pontifical organization, Scholas Occurrentes.
On August 5, the young people will have the chance to spend time with the Pope at an evening prayer vigil at Parque do Tejo (Tejo Park) after he leads a rosary prayer with sick young people during a one-day visit to the Chapel of Apparitions of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in the town of Fatima.
Events associated with World Youth Day will conclude with a morning Mass on August 6 at Tejo Park.
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