By Alexandra Moyen and Jessica Easthope
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Since attending World Youth Day for the first time as pope in 2013, Pope Francis encouraged young people to invite God into their lives and go forward as Christ’s disciples. Typically held in the summer, the global event — held every two to three years — was created in 1985 by Pope St. John Paul II to bring together young Catholics from around the world.
Pope Francis attended four World Youth Day celebrations, sharing messages of hope, empathy, and mission at each.
World Youth Day 2013, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Roughly 3 million people attended the final Mass of World Youth Day 2013, Pope Francis’ first. The celebration was held in his native South America, and took place just months after his election. The theme was “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
The Holy Father said in his homily that he believed Jesus was speaking to each of them, saying, “It was wonderful to take part in World Youth Day, to live the faith together with young people from the four corners of the earth.”
“But now you must go, now you must pass on this experience to others,” he said. Pope Francis also emphasized the importance of a missionary spirit, and told the young people that the Lord had given them three simple ideas: “Go, do not be afraid, and serve.”
Romeo Petric, a board chairman for St. Patrick Catholic Academy in Bay Ridge, said he and his youth group had a bit of trouble trying to find the best vantage point to see Pope Francis. Yet, as they say, “good things come to those who wait,” Petric said.
“We were a bit far from the main venue, but as he [drove], once up and down the boulevard that bordered the beaches, the kids were finally able to get a glimpse of him and wave as he zipped by,” he said.
World Youth Day 2016, Kraków, Poland
Held in the hometown of Pope St. John Paul II, the theme of World Youth Day 2016 was “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Angelica Taveras, director of Youth Ministry for Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Queens Village, said her trip to Poland was a true representation of the “universal Church.”
While leaving the opening Mass, Taveras said she had a “beautiful moment.”
“We were all walking out shoulder to shoulder because thousands of people are coming out at the same time,” Taveras said. “All of a sudden we’re singing a song. I’m singing it in Spanish and the person next to me is singing it in a different language.”
“There was such a profound connection,” she added. “You hear the same song and all of a sudden we are singing it in different languages and the person next to me just smiles and we laughed.”
World Youth Day 2019, Panama City, Panama
The 34th World Youth Day was held in Central America for the first time, with the theme, “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
On the last day, Pope Francis celebrated Mass, focusing his homily on Mary as an example of youthful discipleship. He said that like Mary, young people need to say yes “to the dream God has sown” in them.
The Holy Father also addressed the dangers of sitting around and waiting for their calling, saying that for Jesus, “there is no meantime.” “You, dear young people, are not the future but the now of God,” Pope Francis said. “He invites you and calls you in your communities and cities to go out and find your grandparents and your elders, to stand up with them, to speak out, and to realize the dream that the Lord has dreamed for you.”
Petric, who has attended six World Youth Days, said the diversity of the Panama gathering stood out. He believes that the event being held in Central America made it easier for many people to travel.
“When he arrived, that was a lot of fun,” Petric said. “He seemed to drive around a little bit slower, and I think that alludes to the fact that he’s from South America.
“When we went to our catechesis sessions, it was a lot smaller place to be,” he added, “and everybody got into it. It did feel a lot more one on one.”
World Youth Day 2023, Lisbon, Portugal
Over 1 million people flocked to Lisbon for he closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023, which was dubbed the “Catholic Woodstock” by the Portuguese press. The theme was “Mary arose and went with haste,” with Pope Francis once again highlighting Mary, and urging young people to not be afraid of stepping forward in faith.
The Holy Father explained to the crowd that shining their light doesn’t mean putting themselves in the spotlight but welcoming Jesus into their hearts, and learning to love as he did. He repeatedly told them not to be afraid. Steven Eriquez, then the youth minister of Our Lady of Grace Church in Howard Beach, attended the gathering with two of his children and 12 members of the church’s youth group.
Eriquez recalled the kid’s excitement when Pope Francis traveled around the city in his popemobile.
“It was Thursday evening when the pope drove right past us — the weather was perfect,” Eriquez said. “We all looked at each other at that point and were like, ‘We could go home and be happy.’ ” Eriquez, now a youth minister at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills, said the trip
was a success the moment they saw Pope Francis, adding that moments like those remind him of what the Church is really about.
“When they’re in that moment and surrounded by 1 million people their age, they can now be moved by the impact of the Catholic Church throughout the world,” Eriquez said.
As the event came to a close, it was announced that the next World Youth Day would be held in South Korea in 2027. After the announcement, Petric said the first thing he did was ask the kids who would be joining him, and they all raised their hands.
“I have a group that I’m hoping would be interested in participating,” he said. “Hopefully, they’ll be interested in going and maybe drag a friend or two with them, which is always a good thing every time somebody new comes along or if I get a kid from a neighboring parish that wants to go.”