A few hours before World Youth Day 2023 began in Lisbon, some 1,500 pilgrims from the Schoenstatt Movement arrived at the Shrine of Fátima.
The young people, coming from 15 countries, participated in a Mass concelebrated by more than 40 priests linked to this ecclesial movement.
A few hours from the official start of #WYD #Lisboa2023, 1,500 Schoenstatt pilgrims arrived at the Fatima Shrine in Portugal. They attended a Mass concelebrated by more than 40 priests and then the young people took over the place with joy. pic.twitter.com/GP2vbGKyb9
— EWTN News (@EWTNews) July 31, 2023
Following the Eucharist, which was conducted with great reverence, the celebration commenced.
To the popular cry of "This is the youth of the pope," the pilgrims (mostly Spanish-speaking) began singing and celebrating the meeting.
In the days prior to the official start of World Youth Day, thousands of young people came to Fátima, which is about 90 minutes from Lisbon, to visit and pray in the place where the Virgin Mary appeared more than a hundred years ago before the little shepherds Lucía Dos Santos, Saint Francisco, and Saint Jacinta Marto.
Let us unite in prayer for the fruits of this year's World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal!
Official Prayer for World Youth Day 2023
Our Lady of the Visitation,
you who left in haste towards the mountain to meet Elizabeth,
lead us also to meet all those who await us
to deliver them the living Gospel:
Jesus Christ, your Son, and our Lord!
We will go in a hurry, with no distractions or delay,
but with readiness and joy.
We will go peacefully because those who take Christ take peace,
and welldoing is the best well-being.
Our Lady of the Visitation,
with your inspiration, this World Youth Day
will be the mutual celebration of the Christ we take, as You once did.
Make it a time of testimony and sharing,
fraternization, and giving thanks,
each of us looking for the others who always wait.
With you, we will continue on this path of gathering,
so that our world will gather as well,
in fraternity, justice, and peace.
Help us, Our Lady of the Visitation,
to bring Christ to everyone, obeying the Father, in the love of the Spirit!