The World Youth Day festival concluded today with Pope Francis gathering with over a million people in Lisbon, at a park near the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, for the Sunday Mass on this day which is also the feast of the Transfiguration.
In his homily, the Pope encouraged them—and all of us—to shine with the light of Christ, to listen to God’s call, and to take courage in following Him, because He knows us, addresses us personally, and loves us with an intimate personal love by which He leads us on the path to salvation.
“Dear young people,I would like to look each of you in the eye
and say to you:
do not be afraid, do not be afraid.
What's more, I'll tell you a beautiful thing.
It is no longer I, it is Jesus himself who looks at you now.
He looks at you, He who knows you,
knows the heart of each of you,
knows the life of each of you,
knows the joys, knows the sorrows,
the successes and failures,
knows your heart.
And today He says to you, here, in Lisbon,
knows your heart.
And today He says to you, here, in Lisbon,
on this World Youth Day:
'Do not be afraid, do not be afraid,
'Do not be afraid, do not be afraid,
courage, do not be afraid!'”
~Pope Francis, Homily, August 6, 2023
“When Christ appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (cf. 1 John 3:2). —Communion Antiphon for the Feast of the Transfiguration.
