After World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023 ended, Bishop Américo Aguiar, President of the WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation, spoke to the pilgrims about "a very Portuguese sentiment: Saudade."

"Dear World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 pilgrims (...)" - this is how Bishop Américo Aguiar addressed the participants of the largest international gathering of youth with the Pope - "(…) to say thank you for your presence, for your participation, for the celebration you had in Portugal, in the dioceses where you were, in the families that welcomed you, and in the various moments of our World Youth Day," he began by sharing.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon remembered the days of the largest meeting of young people from all over the world with the Pope in the Portuguese capital as "days of encounter with the Living Christ, of sharing dreams, of willingness to help build peace both in the places we live and in all parts of the world."

However, in a speech in which young people are still the protagonists, D. Américo Aguiar once again did not fail to give thanks for the presence of Pope Francis, "who inspired us by the messages he addressed to us and by the challenges he poses to us at every moment." "Thank you, Holy Father, for always inspiring us...," he shared.

In the Portuguese way, the General Coordinator gave voice to “saudade”, which is "a very Portuguese word" that one feels when remembering the "good moments, defining moments" of World Youth Day Lisbon 2023. "We miss having you here, sharing your joy, your dreams," he said.

To all the young people who "dream of a young Church" and who were part of this WYD that "showed that young people are part of the Church," D. Américo Aguiar assured: "We are together in this dream!"

At the end of the encounter, the certainty remains that "it is with this 'saudade' that we build the future where we are all needed." "See you one of these days," he concluded.