More than 300,000 young people of different nationalities and backgrounds, with an average age of 31, are expected to participate in World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.
After surveying more than 12,000 young people, a study by the Spanish consulting firm GAD3 found that for 66% of pilgrims this will be their first WYD experience.
MATTEO FORCARELLI
Italian pilgrim
This will be my first WYD. I have never participated in any other and I am very excited. I can't wait to get there!
The remaining percentage of young people have already attended at least one other World Youth Day. 92% of them say that WYD has had a great impact on their lives.
FR. JOHN
Australian pilgrim
So I attended WYD in 2005. That was my first WYD and my first overseas trip. That was in Cologne, Germany and that made a huge impact on my life. And then later on, I attended the more local WYD in Sydney, so I didn't have to travel far for that. And then 2016, I went to Poland, Krakow for that WYD.
The vast majority will come from Portugal, the host country for this celebration, Spain and Italy. Nevertheless, many young people are also coming from Latin America, particularly Brazil.
Most people will stay in Lisbon for an estimated five days and will travel by plane and bus. But others are also making the journey on a boat.
ARIANNA DI PIETRO
Italian Pilgrim
It will be a long and difficult journey. We will go by boat and then by bus and eventually we will get there.
Almost 40% of pilgrims will take advantage of their journey to Portugal to visit other countries in Europe like Spain, France or Italy.
PÍA SAHADE
Argentine Pilgrim
Our destination is WYD and we are going to participate. But we are also making a pilgrimage to various parts of Europe, which we also believe are significant for Christianity, for Catholicism, for everything.
7 out of 10 young people are traveling to Lisbon as pilgrims, while 3 out of 10 are attending as volunteers and will help with various tasks for WYD.
CA
TR: KG
