With less than three months to go until World Youth Day, Pope Francis sent a video message to young people taking part in the event, offering his encouragement and urging them to prepare themselves to encounter others and grow in hope. The following is the English text of the Holy Father’s words.

Dear young people, you are getting ready for World Youth Day. There are three months to go. I can imagine the things you must have on your mind... how you’re going to: make it happen, request your work or study permit, get what you need for your trip, so many concerns, but always looking towards that horizon, that dream. It’s a dream... to participate in wyd is something beautiful, and when one feels it, they have the desire to participate.

Prepare yourselves with that enthusiasm. Put hope in that. Have hope... because one grows a lot at an event like wyd. We don’t realize it, but things remain inside us. Values remain, those we have discovered inside, relationships with youth from other countries... the encounters. It all remains inside us, and above all, to see the strength of the youth.

The Church has the strength of youth.

So, go forward. First, a secret... to prepare well, it’s good to look towards your roots. Try to spend time with the elderly. Many of you have grandparents. Visit your grandparents, and ask them: “In your time did World Youth Day exist?”. — Surely not. “And what do you think I must do?”. Talk a little with your grandparents. They’ll give you wisdom. But always go forward.

I’ll see you in Lisbon. Ciao!

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L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English, Fifty-sixth year, number 20, Friday, 19 May 2023. p. 9.