On the sixth Sunday of Easter time, the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes, Parque das Nações Parish, welcomed Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State. Also present were Américo Aguiar, president of the World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 Foundation, and the Apostolic Nuncio to Portugal. Breaking the news of the Mass celebration was the official WYD website www.lisboa2023.org/

Cardinal Pietro Parolin addressed the young people, believing that “the celebration, on the sixth Sunday of Easter, was a propitious occasion to reflect together on the path of preparation for the next World Youth Day, which will take place here in Lisbon.”

With 79 days to go until WYD Lisbon 2023, the Vatican Secretary of State, in his homily, thanked those who are preparing for this meeting and recalled that “although for most young people this meeting will begin only at the beginning of August, for each of you, who are actively involved in its preparation, it has already begun. It is already part of your prayers, your work, your generosity, and your commitment.”

For the Cardinal Secretary of State, these are the moments of prayer “that strengthen and renew your hearts,” referring to the young people.

“World Youth Day is, of course, a festive event but at the same time, an opportunity to meet and share with young people from all over the world,” the Cardinal concluded in Lisbon.

Also, the official WYD website reports that many national and international volunteers were present at this celebration on the way to WYD Lisbon 2023.

This article was originally published on ACI Stampa.