Cardinal-elect Bishop Américo Aguiar, the recently appointed president of the World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023 Foundation, emphasized in a recent interview that WYD is an open call to global youth to explore their relationship with God, not a mission to convert them.
CNA reported that in conversation with ACI Digital, Aguiar, an auxiliary bishop of Lisbon, clarified his statement: “We don’t want to convert the young people to Christ or to the Catholic Church or anything like that at all.”
He stated this comment was in the larger context of World Youth Day’s goal of fostering unity among diverse young people.
World Youth Day, set to take place in Lisbon, Portugal from Aug. 1-6, is a celebration of youthful diversity and spiritual exploration. Aguiar voiced his belief that the event’s core message is one of universal brotherhood, underscoring the importance of respecting different belief systems.
Drawing on Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti, the bishop highlighted the enriching nature of differences and the need to instill the sentiment of global fraternity in young hearts. He emphasized the acceptance of every participant, irrespective of religious or non-religious backgrounds, suggesting that this openness and inclusivity would lead to a better world. Aguiar reiterates the event’s non-conversion objective, promoting mutual respect and co-existence.
World Youth Day, a tradition started by Pope John Paul II in 1985, is an occasion for young people to explore their faith and potentially commit to religious service.
