One and a half million young people attended the 37th World Youth Day in Lisbon. It ran from 1st-6th August. Pope Francis was in the midst of the young people and gave some inspiring and encouraging messages. 
A central theme was PEACE. On his return to Rome, at the weekly audience, he said: “While in the Ukraine and other places in the world war is being fought (…) WYD showed everyone that another world is possible: a world of brothers and sisters, where the flags of all peoples wave together, side by side, without hatred, without fear, without closures, without weapons! The message of the young people was clear. Will the “big people of the earth” listen to it? Will they listen to this youthful enthusiasm that wants peace?”
The Pope’s heartfelt words to the young people were touching, as Paola from the Focolare International Youth Centre highlighted, recalling the concluding moments of the event:
“WYD is over… some words of Pope Francis to the young people during the final Mass remain with me! “What will we take back with us as we resume our daily lives? 3 words: shine, listen and don’t be afraid. We shine by welcoming Jesus into our hearts and learning to love as he does. To love like Jesus: that is what makes us shine, makes us do works of love. Friends, I am telling you the truth: whenever you do works of love, you become light. Listen. Listen to Jesus, that is life’s secret. Listen to what Jesus is saying to you. “But I don’t know what he is saying to me”. Take the Gospels and read there what Jesus is saying, what he is saying to your heart. Be careful of selfishness disguised as love! Listen to Jesus, for he will show you which paths are those of love. Don’t be afraid. Dear young people, I would like to look each of you in the eyes and say: Do not be afraid. I will tell you something else, also very beautiful: it is no longer me, but Jesus himself who is now looking at you. He knows each of your hearts, each of your lives; he knows your joys, your sorrows, your successes and failures. He knows your heart. Today, he says to you, here in Lisbon, at this World Youth Day: “Have no fear, take heart, do not be afraid!””.
Jesus Moran, Focolare Co-President was bowled over by many aspects of the week spent in Lisbon. He was particularly captivated by the portrayal of the “Way of the Cross”, saying,
“An international group of young people came up with an artistic framework of extraordinary beauty and visual effectiveness, a huge stage, a kind of giant scaffolding on which the ‘actors’ moved around in an ethereal manner, letting themselves fall down and carrying the cross from side to side, up and down. 
There was a continuous feeling of vertigo which was expressed at each station, with a few words of reflection and a lot of visual impact, expressing the ‘vertigo’ that imbues the lives of young people today in a stark manner: addictions, lack of meaning, an uncertain future, contempt for life, toxic relationships. All motifs that the cross bore, or rather, that the crucified one bore on his shoulders, to be transfigured into new life.”
The group from Focolare Ireland are still processing the event. One explained that as time passes the significance of the experience becomes clearer while others spoke of “mystical” moments. More to come when they catch up on their sleep!
