A total of 360 pilgrims from Mallorca have joined thousands of young people from around the world to participate in World Youth Day (WYD) 2023 in Lisbon. Spain is one of the countries with the largest number of participants, with more than 80,000 young people and 71 Spanish bishops attending.

The young people from Mallorca have been preparing with special catechesis for months for this significant occasion, expressing their enthusiasm and dedication every step of the way. Their participation in WYD 2023 reflects the deep sense of devotion and hope of the Catholic youth on the island, according to the Bisbat de Mallorca. During their stay in Lisbon, the group of 360 Mallorcans led by the bishop, Sebastià Taltavull, participate in various activities, including meetings with religious leaders, catechesis, moments of adoration, and the moving closing ceremony presided over by Pope Francis.

Last Monday, 31 July, the Mallorcans, along with pilgrims from the dioceses of Catalonia, visited the Shrine of Fatima in the morning and in the afternoon attended a meeting in Estoril organised by the Spanish Episcopal Conference in which 37,375 young people from 67 dioceses in Spain, 32 religious congregations and 11 national and international movements took part.

Photos: Bisbat de Mallorca. 

WYD is a religious event of great importance for the Catholic Church, bringing together more than 313,000 young people from different nationalities and cultures to share their faith, experiences and values. In this historic edition, the city of Lisbon is the setting for a week full of prayer, reflection and activities that promote unity and a commitment to peace and justice. The motto of this international meeting, which ends on Sunday 6 August, is “Mary arose and departed without delay” (Lk 1:39).