Pope Francis thanks the volunteer’s collaboration
On the course of today’s afternoon, Pope Francis met with the volunteers of World Youth Day (WYD), on the moment that was his last before the farewell of the Holy Father to Portugal.
After the usual salutation from Pope Francis to the young people in the area, three young people shared their testimony of faith and service during this WYD Lisbon 2023. Chiara Kollmeder, a young woman from Germany that collaborates with the Local Organizational Committee (Comité Organizador Local - COL) since 2022, revealed that she lived a “unique experience” and that “the shared faith gives an incredible joy”.
Whether in the work with the volunteers, in meetings with pilgrims or at Mass, I have been able to feel this deep joy that, until now, nothing and no one has been able to give me
Adding to her experience during the WYD Lisbon 2023, Chiara also shared her experience of faith during this period. “despite moments of loneliness, doubt and homesickness, there was always someone who was there for me”, and someone who always looked for her, “the church”, she said.
Francisco Seabra, from the Pastoral Board of WYD Lisbon 2023, mentioned that” This World Youth Day was really a journey, a path, a pilgrimage that he embarked on.”
On a personal level, it was an experience of great inner growth in which I had the opportunity to get to know myself better, to still myself internally, even that I still have a long way ahead of me
Filipe, from the Algueirão – Mem Martins Parish, revealed that” hosting young people from the entire world, with whom we shared our faith, it is a reason to be grateful”. Even though there were” months of worry and anxiety” “the joy was much bigger”.
To sum up the experience of the WYD is an impossible task. And this happens because, even though it is a gathering of thousands of young people that celebrate their faith, it is above all a very personal meeting with the Lord. It is from this encounter with God that comes the personal experience of each Volunteer and each Pilgrim
After this moment, it was time to Cardinal Manuel Clemente thank the presence of Pope Francis in this World Youth Day. As he mentioned, the volunteers were the ones who” made everything to happen in the best way possible and with the best results”.
I would also like to give a special mention and give my thanks to the number one volunteer, Bishop Américo Aguiar
Pope Francis started by thanking the Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon and to Bishop Américo Aguiar, President of the WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation. Following that, he thanked the protagonists of this meeting, the volunteers, that “worked during months, discretely, silently and without seeking protagonism, so that we could all be here singing together: “Jesus lives and doesn’t leave us alone: we shall never stop loving”.
During these days, while answering to a thousand needs, sometimes with your face showing the tiredness, sometimes overwhelmed by the emergencies of the moment, but always, I’ve noticed this, your eyes were bright, bright, bright with the joy of service. Thank you.