Pope closes world youth event 

Jan 29, 2019

The event was also attended by the archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who was invited by Panama Diocese.

POPE   YOUTH  PANAMA

Pope Francis on Sunday closed the world youth day and ended his three-day visit to Panama. Pope Francis travelled to Panama from the 23 to 27 January to celebrate World Youth Day with young people from across the world.

While preaching in millions of youth from all over the world, he said: "Dear young people, thank you for loving your church, faith and the joy you have shown to Panamanians, and Panama as a country and the world at large." 

 
He said people from different contents, countries, dioceses, parishes and homes were gathered as a people on a journey, urging them to keep moving. "Do not forget that you are not there tomorrow, you are not the meantime, you are  now representatives of many who wished to attend, but due circumstances, they failed to make it." 

 

The pontiff said this after the closing Holy Mass of World Youth Day 2019 at St Paul II field in Panama on Sunday. The 82-year-old pontiff had an unrelenting schedule since he arrived in Panama last Wednesday for World Youth day 2019, a global Catholic Youth gathering. He led masses in different places, including Panama Cathedral.

 

He blessed, met with Panama government officials, clergy, sick and disabled children and youth.  According to the organisers of the event, over five million youth from all over the world, including Uganda, attended.

Uganda was represented by 30 youth, led by the Bishop of Kasana-Luwero, Paul Ssemwogerere. 

The event was also attended by the archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who was invited by Panama Diocese.  Pope Francis warned youth  of the danger of living in "a kind of waiting room, sitting around until we are called".

Both adults and young people risk thinking it is not yet time. He said: "We may possess everything, but if we lack the passion of love, we will have nothing." He reminded youth to Keep walking, keep living the faith and sharing it with others. 

The Catholic Church organizes the World Youth Day every three years and young people from different countries participate, presided over by the Pope.  The events origin dates back to 1985, declared the International Year of Youth, when the Church organized, on Palm Sunday, a meeting with 350,000 young people in St. Peter's Square in Rome. After the success of the convention, in December of that year, John Paul II instituted the World Youth Day. 

 

Since it was started, the first was in Rome in 1984 and second in 1985 in Rome, in 1987 was in Buenos Aires, Santiago De Compostela in 1989, Czestocwaza in 1991, Denver in 1993, Manila in 1995, Paris in 1997, Rome again in 2000, Toronto in Canada in 2002, Cologne-Germany 2005, Sydney in 2008, Madrid in 2011, Rio in Brazil in 2013, Poland in 2016 and Panama. 

 

The next one, 2022, will be held in Portugal.

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