We are 100 days away from World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023! WYD, which will take place in Lisbon for the first time, is the largest gathering of young people from around the world with the Pope. 

Known to be a time of sharing, joy and unity, it concentrates several remarkable moments throughout the week. Although every little moment writes the history of World Youth Day, there are those that mark everyone who passes through.

Manila Mass with the Pope

The Final Mass, or Sending Mass, with the Pope at WYD Manila 1995 was the most attended Mass ever, with about 4 million pilgrims at Rizal Park. Pope Saint John Paul II had to use a helicopter to reach the altar.

During WYD Manila 1995, Saint John Paul II asked the youth to be "a witness of Jesus Christ. And may you learn to proclaim all that Christ's message contains for the authentic liberation and progress of humanity. This is what Christ expects of you. This is what the Church seeks in the young people of the Philippines, Asia and the world.

Pope Saint John Paul II dances with the youth

During WYD Rome 2000, Pope John Paul II had a very striking moment when he danced with the youth on the night of the Prayer Vigil. More than two million pilgrims participated in this World Youth Day.

WYD Rome 2000 celebrated the jubilee of this gathering and its hymn, "Emmanuel", became one of the most popular ever. Pope Saint John Paul II said to all the pilgrims, "Dear young people of the century that is beginning, in saying 'Yes' to Christ, you say 'Yes' to each of your noblest ideals. I ask Christ to reign in your hearts and in the humanity of the new century and millennium. Do not be afraid to give yourselves to Him: He will guide each one of you and give you the strength to follow Him every day, in every situation."

Storm at the Vigil in Madrid

During the WYD Madrid 2011 Vigil, heavy rain marked the moment of prayer at the Cuatro Vientos Airfield. Despite this, the young people remained in the venue and Pope Benedict XVI joined them, and told them that "our strength is greater than the rain, and with it, the Lord sends us many blessings. You are an example".

As happens on every World Youth Day, the young people stayed overnight on the grounds after the Vigil, despite the adverse weather conditions. At the final Mass, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the pilgrims, thanking them for being "full of enthusiasm and firm in the faith," and added that "I am sure that this morning, more than once, you will have raised your eyes to heaven, and not only your eyes, but also your heart, and this will have allowed you to pray. God brings out the good in everything".

Final Mass on Copacabana Beach

Similar to what happened at WYD Madrid 2011, also in Rio de Janeiro rain had an influence on the course of WYD Rio 2013. This is because, a few weeks before WYD, the location of the Vigil and Final Mass had to be changed to the beach of Copa Cabana.

However, this change created one of the most striking moments of any WYD that has ever taken place. More than 3 million pilgrims filled the Copacabana beach for both the Vigil and the Final Mass, creating one of the most memorable images of WYD Rio 2013.

During the Sending Mass, Pope Francis left a request to the youth: "Go, without fear, to serve," since "the Church needs you, the enthusiasm, creativity and joy that characterize you.

Pope's Blessing of a young man in a wheelchair

At WYD Panama 2019, where Portugal was announced as the country that would host the next WYD, one of the most striking moments of World Youth Day also took place.

The moment when a young man in a wheelchair was lifted from the crowd to receive the blessing from Pope Francis created one of the most striking images of WYD Panama 2019. This was a strong demonstration of unity and faith, which characterise World Youth Day.

At the Final Mass, Pope Francis called on young people to act, since "you, dear young people, are not the future. We like to tell you: 'You are the future ...'. But it is not true! You are the present! You are not the future of God; you, young people, are God's now. He is calling you, he is calling you in your communities, he is calling you in your cities, to go in search of your grandparents, of the adults; to stand up and, together with them, to take the floor and to fulfil the dream that the Lord has dreamed for you".

Since the first edition, held in Rome in 1986, World Youth Day has proved to be a laboratory of faith, a place of birth for vocations to marriage and the consecrated life and an instrument of evangelization and transformation of the Church.

These were five moments that have marked previous World Youth Days, among many others that will remain forever in the memory of all its participants. Each WYD brings something new, because it is led by each of the pilgrims and volunteers who participate in it.

Come and be part of WYD Lisbon 2023 history!