Nearly 5,000 young people celebrated their international gathering, full of emotion, with a Eucharistic hour marked by silence and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Crowded streets and jubilation among young people is what was experienced on the first day of World Youth Day 2023, in Lisbon. In any public square, park or parish you can see the thousands of WYD t-shirts and flags from the various countries of the world present.

On the morning of August 1st, around 5 thousand Regnum Christi youth celebrated the International Gathering at “Parque da Quinta das Conchas e dos Lilases”. They began at exactly 9:30 in the morning with the Eucharistic hour in an atmosphere of silence and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The music of Kenósis RC Spain animated the prayer.

Upon concluding the Eucharistic blessing, the young people had moments of encounter, fellowship and fun with the concert by Kayrós who traveled from Guadalajara, Mexico to celebrate before thousands of Regnum Christi youth as well as Legionaries of Christ, Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi and Lay Consecrated of Regnum Christi.

The countries present at this first event were Germany, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, United States, Slovakia, Spain, Philippines, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Poland and Venezuela.

Upon concluding the International Gathering, the Regnum Christi youth moved to the Opening Mass at Eduardo VII Park on Colina do Encontro where thousands of people gathered to begin the 38th World Youth Day.

During the homily, Cardinal Manuel Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon, welcomed all participants. “Welcome also in the ecumenical, interreligious and good will breadth that these days keep and that today bring us together”.

The Mass being celebrated is of the Visitation of Our Lady, which is the general theme of the Day: Mary arose and went without delay to meet Elizabeth. “It is an evangelical step that also includes us,” he mentioned.

The Cardinal referred that, when telling Pope Francis the theme of the Day: Mary went in haste… he told him: “in haste, but not with anxiety”. His message to the young people was: “To be in a hurry but without anguish, like one who shares what they have”.

Upon concluding the Eucharistic Celebration, the WYD atmosphere was filled with jubilation, dancing and flags.

With information from the Regnum Christi Communications Office