San Francisco’s Archbishop Cordileone invites all youth to join the upcoming World Youth Day 2021. The event is set to take place in Lisbon, Portugal.
Announcement of WYD 2021
According to the Archdiocese of San Francisco events page, Archbishop Salvadore Cordileone urges all youth to participate in World Youth Day. The event will happen from Aug. 1 to 6, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal.
The post continued to say that the Vatican revealed the revised dates on Oct. 3. As the globe grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis declared in April 2020 that World Youth Day 2022 would be deferred.
The post also mentioned that Pope Francis' announcement about the gathering piqued Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone's excitement. He expressed his delight at knowing the dates for World Youth Day in Lisbon in August 2023, which he said will bring millions of people together to celebrate with the Holy Father. Dallas Archbishop Edward Burns also shares the same sentiments.
Additionally, the post said that The Archbishops hope that many people from the United States will attend, and they invite all teenagers and young adults to participate.
Moreover, they also urge the youth to be a part of this time in the Church's existence, whether they go to Lisbon, engage through digital media, or join their peers at one of the many local festivities taking place in dioceses across the country, as per the same post.
Meanwhile, the post revealed that according to Chris Mariano, coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, arrangements are in the works to transport a team to World Youth Day.
The post continued to say that Mariano revealed the archdiocesan office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is starting to put together a package for the World Youth Day Delegation to Lisbon, Portugal, in 2023.
Furthermore, as per the same post, individuals and groups are also welcome to participate in the pilgrimage. Mariano said the two-week journey will include short trips to St. Francis' hometown of Assisi, the Vatican, and the Camino de Santiago before concluding with World Youth Day in Lisbon, which is still in the early planning stages.
The post also mentioned that the WYD Mass with the Holy Father will occur on the feast of the Transfiguration, which is Aug. 6, 2023, according to Archbishop Cordileone and Archbishop Burns.
Peter, James, and John's encounter at the Transfiguration was a defining moment in their lives. The post expressed their hope that WYD will have a comparable impact on today's young people, regardless of where or how they travel, to commemorate this exceptional international celebration of faith.
Message to Youth
According to the Vatican’s official page, Pope Francis sends a message to the youth saying that people worldwide have lost so many loved ones and have become socially isolated. For young people, the health crisis was a particular setback because their lives are naturally geared outwards: to school or university, job, and social gatherings.
Furthermore, the statement said that the youth were thrust into harsh settings that they were not accustomed to. Those who found it more difficult or who lacked help felt confused. Family issues, unemployment, despair, loneliness, and addictive behavior all increased, not to mention additional stress, tensions, outbursts of wrath, and violence.
Fortunately, as per the post, this was only one-half of the story. The experience demonstrated our frailty, highlighting our strengths, such as our proclivity for unity. The church observed a large group of people, like many young people, all across the globe, helping to save lives, plant the seeds of hope, defend freedom and justice, and serve as peacemakers and bridge makers.
