World Youth Day (WYD) 2023 kicked off in Lisbon, Portugal, with the participation of hundreds of thousands of young Catholics from around the world. This international event, which will take place until August 6, aims to bring together young people around faith and promote interreligious dialogue.
Pope Francis arrived in Lisbon on August 2 and was welcomed by the Portuguese Prime Minister. His presence during WYD is eagerly awaited by the young participants who are preparing with enthusiasm for the various events and ceremonies planned.
Among the young people present, many Africans made the trip to Lisbon to participate in WYD. Chrystelle, originally from Niger, carries the flag of her country and wishes to convey a message of peace. She left her country on the day of the coup and hopes that peace will return soon.
Ismaël is Sudanese and a refugee in Portugal. He carries the flag of Sudan, a country plagued by war, and hopes the pope’s visit can help change the situation and promote peace.
Willy Ba Mbomba from Gabon underlines the importance of sharing this WYD experience in order to strengthen the faith and the Church. He considers that the presence of African youth is essential to revitalize the Church which is experiencing decline.
However, despite their desire to participate, many young Africans were unable to obtain visas to travel to Lisbon. Some, like the Cameroonians, have seen their requests rejected. For Father Clément Mevo, member of the Cameroonian delegation, this situation is the result of prejudices and preconceived ideas about Africans. He believes that everyone should have the right to participate in these international events and denounces the discrimination that some young Africans face when trying to obtain a visa.
The World Youth Day in Lisbon is therefore a moment of gathering and sharing for Catholic youth from around the world. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the issues of inclusion and diversity within the Church, by giving voice to young Africans who have been limited in their participation due to the difficulties linked to obtaining visas.