World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023 will have many occasions of prayer, sharing, leisure, and other varied initiatives. Some of the most anticipated moments are the Central Events, which also include religious ceremonies. Find out more about the details of these celebrations. 

Vestments for Priests and Bishops  

Vestments for priests and bishops will be produced in Portugal and Italy by the Italian company DESTA, one of the world's leading producers of ecclesiastical clothing and sacred furniture.   

In addition to Pope Francis' vestments, a total of 10,000 vestments are being produced for the thousands of priests and about 800 bishops who will be at Campo da Graça (Parque Tejo) on August 6th for the WYD Lisbon 2023 Missioning Mass.  

Behind the conceptual design of the vestments´ creation is the iconographic meaning of the path and roads to be traveled, displayed with the green and red colors of Portugal, and heading towards WYD Lisbon 2023, "always in the presence of God." These paths appear alongside the path illuminated by the Holy Spirit, represented by the yellow-gold color. 

In communion with Pope Francis´ meditation in the encyclical Laudato Sí', WYD Lisbon 2023 assumes a strong commitment to sustainability as an incentive for pilgrims to take care of our Common Home. For this motive, specific criteria were established, such as the production of garments with renewable energies and using non-dyed Portuguese “burel,” made from wool from Serra da Estrela and which characterizes Portuguese culture. 

The fiber of this material is "natural, recycled, and totally biodegradable," Isabel Costa, one of the founders of Burel Factory, told Público. "It is a great pride, as Portuguese and as a company, that we are part of this encounter,” she added.   

Although not dyed, the burel will be embroidered with gold-colored thread to be later applied in several pieces on the vestments in order to bring to mind "the symbolic value of the shepherd." Pope Francis' vestments will also feature the unprecedented use of burel, representing the participation of the interior of the country and Portuguese culture in WYD Lisbon 2023. 

The commitment to sustainability also includes a policy of using "clean energy," i.e., energy produced by DESTA from renewable sources that do not emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. 

Liturgical objects of WYD Lisbon 2023  

During the religious celebrations, various liturgical objects will be used, from the pyx to the chalice and the paten: the liturgical implements. There will be three curved lines and segments with three circumferences on these liturgical implements. 

Given the size of WYD Lisbon 2023, six thousand pyxes will be needed. A pyx is an object that is used to hold and distribute the Eucharistic hosts to the faithful. There will also be 200 chalices, which is where the wine is consecrated during the Eucharist, and they will be used by priests and bishops to receive communion. This liturgical object will be made from shell wood. 

The chalice will have a small Cross in gold-tone between the three lines, like the interior of this object and its upper edge. They represent how precious the mystery of Easter which is given to drink in it. 

The papal ferula will be used by the Pope. It is a tall staff with a cross on top and will have a golden rod running through a silver pentagonal shape, a reference to the five wounds of Christ. The cross will be made of ebony wood, which will be nearly black in color, and on which the same three circular lines of gold will be found in the form of shining light. 

Simple and without any dispersive element - this is how the monstrance, the object in which the consecrated host is exposed for the faithful to adore, will look. All the lines, which resemble arms stretched out from the cardinal points, like the young people participating in WYD, will converge in the center of a large circle.   

The altar of the Missioning Mass, presided by Pope Francis in Campo da Graça (Tejo Park), will feature a well-known piece of Portuguese craftsmanship - the bobbin lace of Peniche. 

The symbolic delivery of the first lace was made by the lace makers of Peniche on July 5th, during the passage of the WYD symbols through the Diocese of Lisbon.  The Councillor of the Municipality of Peniche, Ângelo Marques, as well as the parish priest, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), and the Vicariate Organizing Committee (VOC) were present. Representing the Diocesan Organizing Committee (COD) was João Clemente, who was responsible for receiving the lace. 

"The altar cloth, produced by the lace makers of the Peniche Municipal School of Bobbin Lace, will be used during the celebration of Eucharist by Pope Francis during World Youth Day 2023," explained the municipality in statements to Agência Ecclesia. 

In addition to the impact that the largest international gathering of youth with the Pope will have in Portugal, WYD Lisbon 2023 will also be an opportunity to show Portuguese art to the world.