Polish first lady attends World Youth Day in Lisbon, meets Ukrainian pilgrims

The Polish first lady has visited Lisbon to take part in the Roman Catholic Church’s World Youth Day event, the president’s office in Warsaw has said, posting a slew of photographs from the trip, which included a meeting with Ukrainian pilgrims in the Portuguese capital.

Polish First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda meets with pilgrims from Ukraine during the Roman Catholic Church’s World Youth Day gathering in Lisbon.

Photo: Grzegorz Jakubowski/KPRP

During her three-day visit, Agata Kornhauser-Duda met with groups of Polish people who travelled to Lisbon for the event, which ended on Sunday and was one of the world’s largest international religious gatherings.

🌟📷 At Campo da Graça, the atmosphere is one of hope and enthusiasm! The Holy Father is greeting pilgrims from the popemobile, blessing the young people.
#Lisbon2023 #WYD2023 pic.twitter.com/OtWGRH5vYH

— WYD English (@wyd_en) August 6, 2023

Photo: Grzegorz Jakubowski/KPRP

🇵🇱🇵🇹 #ŚDM
Pierwsza Dama spotkała się z polskimi harcerzami, którzy przybyli do Portugalii, by – głównie jako wolontariusze – wziąć udział w Światowych Dniach Młodzieży.

– To dla mnie ogromna radość, móc się tu z Wami spotkać. Nie zawiedliście w 2016 roku w Krakowie, nie… pic.twitter.com/0IBlz0vOT3

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) August 6, 2023

Rok 2023 to rok kolejnej Białej Służby (pierwsza odbyła się w czerwcu 1983), dlatego większość harcerzy udała się do Lizbony, żeby pełnić służbę wolontariacką, a także by pokazać światu swojego Patrona. Rok 2023 to bowiem także Rok Dziękczynienia za ogłoszenie 20 lat temu… pic.twitter.com/awXlksrCBc

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) August 6, 2023

While in Lisbon, Kornhauser-Duda also met with pilgrims from Ukraine, who told her they were praying for peace in their country and hoping the war started by Russia would end soon, according to the Polish President’s Office.

Podczas Światowych Dni Młodzieży Pierwsza Dama spotkała się również z młodymi pielgrzymami z Ukrainy; wśród nich byli także ci, którzy obecnie znaleźli schronienie w Polsce. Grupie przewodził Pallotyn Ks. Waldemar Pawelec. Pierwszej Damie towarzyszyli: Doradca Prezydenta RP,… pic.twitter.com/IYVi1Hs4Oc

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) August 6, 2023

On Sunday, the Polish first lady attended a huge outdoor Mass celebrated by Pope Francis. She was accompanied by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, officials said.

Polish First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa meet during the Roman Catholic Church’s World Youth Day gathering in Lisbon on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Photo: Grzegorz Jakubowski/KPRP

During the Mass, Pope Francis said he was praying for world peace, especially peace in Ukraine, news agencies reported.

Pope Francis closed an international festival of young Catholics with a huge outdoor Mass and his own ‘I have a dream’ speech, saying it was for world peace, especially for Ukraine https://t.co/SSYBkutWgo

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 6, 2023

More than 1.5 million people attended the closing Mass at Campo da Graça, a riverside park in the Portuguese capital, the Polish President’s Office said.

Agata Kornhauser–Duda wzięła udział w niedzielnej mszy św. wieńczącej odbywające się w Lizbonie #ŚwiatoweDniMłodzieży. Nabożeństwu przewodniczył Papież Franciszek, a w modlitwie wzięło udział ponad 1,5 mln młodych pielgrzymów z całego świata. Obecny był także Prezydent Portugalii… pic.twitter.com/N3skvTIjDs

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) August 6, 2023

Photo: Grzegorz Jakubowski/KPRP

'I feel great sorrow for beloved Ukraine': Pope Francis

Speaking after the service, Francis urged young Catholics to take the experience of the six-day jamboree back home and apply them to their daily lives, the Reuters news agency reported.

A powerful moment, as all those gathered pray in silence. In this silence gives us a moment to reflect on the WYD experience, what we are going to take back with us from what we learnt from each other and Pope Francis
#WYD #Lisboa2023 pic.twitter.com/kZPqrbqt3J

— WYD English (@wyd_en) August 6, 2023

"Dear friends, allow me, this old man, to share with you young people a dream that I carry within me: it is the dream of peace, the dream of young people praying for peace, living in peace and building a peaceful future," Francis said, as quoted by Reuters.

He added: "As you return home, please continue to pray for peace. What is more, you are a sign of peace for the world, showing how different nationalities, languages and histories can unite instead of divide. You are the hope of a different world."

Francis told the crowd: "In thinking of this continent, I feel great sorrow for beloved Ukraine, which continues to suffer greatly."

While in Lisbon for World Youth Day, Francis met with a delegation of 15 young people from Ukraine, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

"As young people, you have great dreams, but often you may fear that they cannot come true. Sometimes you can think that you are not up to the challenge, and you may be tempted to lose heart, to think you fall short, or to disguise your pain with a smile."#WYD #Lisboa2023 pic.twitter.com/6uopaH6efd

— WYD English (@wyd_en) August 6, 2023

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Sunday was day 529 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Francis announced on Sunday that the next World Youth Day event would be held in Seoul, South Korea in 2027.

Pope Francis expresses his deep gratitude for every person who made World Youth Day in Lisbon, “a grace-filled event”, possible and announces that South Korea will host the next WYD in 2027.#PopeInPortugal #WYDLisbonhttps://t.co/y6H0OKjKy8

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) August 6, 2023

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Source: IAR, PAP, prezydent.pl