Four years ago today, 22 January, World Youth Day (WYD) Panama 2019 began. This was the last WYD held and where it was revealed that Lisbon would be the city that would host the next World Youth Day. Recall with us six highlights of WYD Panama 2019.

6.

The arrival of the Pope at World Youth Day is always a moment that marks the young people who go to meet him. In Panama, it took only 30 minutes for the Holy Father to break protocol and greet the pilgrims who were waiting for him upon arrival.

5.

Have you ever imagined yourself sharing a meal with Pope Francis? At WYD Panama 2019, ten young people representing the five continents were chosen to have lunch with the Holy Father on the penultimate day of World Youth Day.

4.

World Youth Day has awakened many and diverse vocations in all its editions. One example that has marked WYD over the years is the marriage proposals that have been witnessed with great enthusiasm by the young people present.

3.

World Youth Day is a meeting open to all. At WYD Panama 2019, one of the moments that most marked the world was when Pope Francis blessed a young man in wheelchairs, who is lifted up by the young people. This moment was captured by Carlos Yap and spread around the world.

2.

At the end of every WYD, the Pope meets with all the volunteers who worked to make the meeting possible. In Panama it was no different, and one of the most striking moments of this edition of World Youth Day was the long-awaited meeting of the more than twenty thousand WYD Panama 2019 volunteers with Pope Francis.

1.

When a WYD ends, we are all already thinking about the next one, such were the incredible moments we experienced. At the sending-off Mass in Panama, Portugal was announced as the next country to host World Youth Day.

Now that you have relived and experienced these moments, are you ready to create your own memories at WYD Lisbon 2023?

We're counting on you from August 1 to 6, 2023! Sign up here.