The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, confirmed that His Holiness Pope Francis will participate in the upcoming World Youth Day 2019 in Panama. Holy Father Pope Francis will arrive at the event a day after it begins and take part from the 23rd to the 27th of January, 2019. World Youth Day (WYD) is an encounter of young people from around the world with the Pope, typically celebrated every three years. The event allows young people to experience the universality of the Church and to share their faith in Jesus Christ.
The announcement made the visit official, but His Holiness Pope Francis had previously registered online for WYD at the Sunday Angelus on February 11, 2018, the day registration for the event opened. Already in March 2017, the Pontiff had released a video message for the 2019 event, inviting young people to look to the Blessed Virgin Mary as they continue their pilgrimage toward the event.
Panama’s president Juan Carlos Varela tweeted on Monday that he “shares the joy and excitement of the Panamanian people” for the official announcement of the Pope’s attendance.
