Fatigue on the last day of WYD did not stop the young people from gathering at the seafront promenade. They still had the strength to cheer on Pope Francis as he passed by in the popemobile.
This final meeting took place with the more than 25,000 WYD volunteers from 150 different countries. Their happiness, mixed with tears of joy, was evident.
In his speech, Pope Francis referred to the town of Nazaré, north of Lisbon, which is a popular spot for surfers for its challenging waves up to 100 feet. He spoke to the volunteers about the service they provided to the WYD attendees.
POPE FRANCIS
In these days, you too have faced a real wave, not of water, but of young people. Young people like you, who have flooded this city. But with God's help, with much generosity and supporting each other, you have braved the great wave.
Along these lines, the Pope charged them with a task: to continue surfing the waves of life.
POPE FRANCIS
I want to tell you to keep it up. Keep surfing the waves of love, the waves of charity. Be surfers of love. Be surfers of love. That is the task that I entrust to you at this moment. May the service that you have done for this World Youth Day be the first of many good waves.
After the Pope's words, a young man explained the meaning of the bracelet worn by all the volunteers.
We visited hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, supporting centers for people with disabilities. To bring the visited people with us, we asked each one to write their name on a bracelet.
A young girl gave a bracelet to the Pope. After an emotional embrace and final blessing, Pope Francis left for the airport, traveling through the streets of Lisbon for one last time.
Accompanied by the president of Portugal, the Pope arrived at the plane and bid farewell to his fourth World Youth Day.
CA
TR: KG
