As pilgrims from the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) head to Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day (WYD), the Archbishop of Johannesburg has called on young people to see the youth pilgrimage as an opportunity to strengthen their “faith.”
Speaking to the SACBC communications office ahead of WYD, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale said the pilgrimage will be an opportunity for young people from the SACBC region to “enjoy the company of the many thousands of young people,” who will be in Lisbon for “the biggest meeting of young people from all over the world.”
“That will give them a sense of the worldwide church, that we are not just a small little country here as Catholics, but that we are part of a bigger world Catholic Church… they will also enjoy the presence of people of deep faith from across the world, and hopefully they will also lift up their faith to be part of that million people who will be celebrating the World Youth Day,” he added.
Archbishop Tlhagale went on to say that the Church would like to see “more testimony and more witnessing of the young people so that they become the leaders of faith.”
He further said that young people who are deeply rooted in their faith should set an example to others by bringing “some well-being through their Christian faith in our communities.”
The Archbishop of Johannesburg Archdiocese encouraged young people to leave “their lives as witnesses of Christ” as it “will be a big difference, not only in their own personal lives, the lives of their families, but in the lives of the public. In general, faith should inspire young people to be leaders in their communities.”
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with the SACBC communications office, the SACBC Youth Chaplain said that “over 350 young people from South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini (SACBC) together with seven Bishops, priests, and religious will attend WYD in Lisbon, Portugal.”
Fr Mthembeni Dlamini encouraged young people to go through the WYD catechesis Rise Up and to be spiritually prepared for the WYD, as it “is actually a pilgrimage” and not a holiday.
The member of the Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries (C.M.M.) went on to call on priests and religious “to accompany young people” during the August 1-6 WYD in Lisbon, Portugal.
Among those attending the WYD are pilgrims from Johannesburg Archdiocese Soweto and South Deaneries.
