WYD 2016 Krakow Update: WYD will go to Panama on 2019

By Silar (Own work) CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia

As is with World Youth Days (WYD) of past, the end of the final eucharistic celebration is the time to announce who will next host the WYD.  It will be Panama's turn.


Pope Francis gave his closing remarks and said that the next WYD, "will take place in 2019 in Panama." The president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, was among the crowd welcoming the announcement while President Andre Duda of Poland congratulated him.

The Pope's homily was extremely touching, focusing on Zacchaeus and how God sees us and how we see Him sometimes.  He said, "God loves us the way we are, and no sin, fault or mistake of ours makes him change his mind."

Pope Francis said there were three things that prevented us from going to Christ: how we see ourselves as small; how we see our shame; and how the judgement of others make us feel.  He adds that our true selves is our spirit and no ugly cellphone brand, cheap clothing, or cool peer group can define that.  Our true home is with God.

The pontiff also said, "People will try to block you, to make you think that God is distant, rigid and insensitive, good to the good and bad to the bad," and that He "will surprise you with his forgiveness and his peace."

He ended by letting us not forget what Christ gave in this WYD. "May we, too, now try to imitate the faithful memory of God and treasure the good things we have received in these days."




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Sources:

Harris, E. Panama to host next WYD in 2019, Pope announces. Catholic News Agency. July 31, 2016 Retrieved from http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/panama-to-host-next-wyd-in-2019-pope-announces-93392/

Schnieble, A. Pope Francis to WYD Pilgrims at Closing Mass: ‘Jesus Calls You by Name!’ National Catholic Register. July 31, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-to-wyd-pilgrims-at-closing-mass-jesus-calls-you-by-name/