WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation
The location for WYD changes and a different city is chosen in each edition. It is the Pope who chooses the diocese that will host each WYD, while the diocese is responsible for organizing the event in close collaboration with the Holy See, more specifically with the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. It is also the Holy Father who chooses the theme for each WYD and illustrates it through a message written for such purpose, thus guiding the path of preparation and the experience of the event itself.
The edition of 2023 was organized by the Patriarchate of Lisbon. With this purpose, the Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon at that time, D. Manuel Clemente, formed the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the WYD Lisbon 2023, an executive organ to prepare the organization of the WYD Lisbon 2023 which is formed by the auxiliary Bishops of Lisbon D. Américo Aguiar e D. Joaquim Mendes and by the executive secretary Duarte Ricciardi.
WYD Lisbon 2023 was organized by the Local Organizing Committee, jointly and in close cooperation, with the Government of Portugal and the City Council of Lisbon, Loures, Oeiras and Cascais, and has been granted the High Patronage of the Portuguese Republic.
The juridical entity of the organization of the WYD Lisbon 2023 is the “Fundação JMJ Lisboa 2023” (WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation), governed by D. Américo Aguiar.