by Bishop Nicholas Hudson

‘Don’t try to be other than what you are,’ was the message we took from St Francis de Sales in our morning catechesis. We were gathered with a marvelous group of pilgrims, from as far afield as Iceland in one direction to the Philippines in another.

We came together with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who’ve descended on Panama City to welcome Pope Francis to World Youth Day 2019. 'Remember,' he told us, 'that Christianity is a person,’ quoting the recently canonized St Oscar Romero. ‘That person waits to realize his dream in each of you.’

Inspiring words to launch us on these three more intensive days of pilgrimage with the successor of Peter.