Pope Francis held his first General Audience after his return from Lisbon for World Youth Day. During his speech, he gave a firm answer to the question of the true purpose of this massive pilgrimage.
POPE FRANCIS
It was not a vacation for young people, it was not a tourist trip, nor was it a spiritual event closed in on itself. Youth Day was an encounter with Christ through the Church. Young people go to meet Christ. It is true that where young people are, there will always be joy and all these things.
The Pope recalled important moments of his apostolic journey. He believes this journey sent a message of peace to the international community.
POPE FRANCIS
While in Ukraine and other places in the world the war is being fought in certain hidden rooms, war is being planned. This is ugly. War is being planned. WYD has shown everyone that another world is possible. A world of brothers and sisters where the flags of all peoples wave in the wind together, side by side, without hatred, without fear, without closing in on themselves, without weapons.
Many of the pilgrims present at the audience had participated in World Youth Day and took advantage of their time in Lisbon to travel to Rome to see the Pope once again.
PA
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