With 33 days left before World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023, today, June 29th, is the celebration of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. In addition to celebrating the lives of the two apostles, this date also honors the role of the Holy Father, since St. Peter was the first Pope and was one of the pillars of the Catholic Church.

Currently holding the office is Pope Francis, who took over as Supreme Pontiff in 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI. To commemorate this date, we recall seven memorable moments of the Holy Father at the three World Youth Days he has attended: WYD Rio de Janeiro 2013, WYD Krakow 2016, and WYD Panama 2019. 

1. Pope Francis inaugurated a recovery center for drug addicts in Rio de Janeiro 

The year he took office, Pope Francis made his first international trip for WYD Rio 2013. One of the memorable moments of this encounter was the visit of the Holy Father to the St. Francis de Assis Hospital in the Tijuca area of Rio de Janeiro, where he inaugurated a psychiatric wing aimed at treating drug addicts. 

2. 12 young people had a unique experience having lunch with the Pope  

While still in Brazilian territory, Pope Francis had a moment that will remain engraved in the memory of those who had the opportunity to experience it. Twelve young volunteers from five continents had the experience of sharing a meal with the Holy Father. 

3.  The Final Mass brought three million faithful to Copacabana Beach 

The last encounter of Pope Francis with young people at WYD Rio 2013 took place at the Final Mass, attended by more than three million faithful on Copacabana Beach. At the end of the celebration, Pope Francis made the long-awaited announcement of the location of the next World Youth Day. 

4. Pope Francis left a message at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp

"Lord, have mercy on your people. Lord forgive such cruelty" - this is how Pope Francis expressed himself when he visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp during his visit to Poland as part of WYD. Although he did not speak during the visit to the sites, it was in the book of honor of the Auschwitz museum that he left the above message. St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI also visited Holocaust sites in the past.

5. Sanctuary of the Black Madonna in Czestochowa received a visit from Pope Francis

One of the highlights of Pope Francis' time in Poland was his visit to the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna in Czestochowa, also known as the Jasna Góra Monastery. This was a special place for Pope John Paul II, who often visited it as a pilgrim. Upon arriving at the shrine, the Holy Father prayed before the Black Madonna and presided over the Mass. The Eucharist took on a special character because Poland was celebrating 1,050 years since its "baptism." Thousands of religious attended the occasion.

6. The image of a young man in a wheelchair held up in the arms of the faithful to see the Pope went viral

In 2019, Panama was the country to host World Youth Day. The largest international gathering of youth with the Pope had this image, which was widely shared on social media on the first day. In it, a young man in a wheelchair is supported in the arms of several young pilgrims so that the Holy Father can see him. As the young man passed by, the Pope blessed him. The photo was taken by the photographer Carlos Yap.

7. Pope Francis met with the young volunteers of WYD Panama 2019 

As usual, the meeting of volunteers with the Pope takes place at the end of each WYD. In Panama, the Rommel Fernández Stadium was the setting for the meeting. At this encounter, the Holy Father heard the testimony of three volunteers who had to go through a difficult time to work at WYD, and in his speech, he left words of encouragement.