Pope Francis: WYD Message, “another step” towards Panama and the Synod. “Mary walks with us”

World Youth Day 2018 represents “another step in preparation for the international WYD due to take place in Panama in January 2019”. This is what Pope Francis said in his message to the youth of the world on the occasion of the 33^rd World Youth Day that will be celebrated at the diocesan level on 25 March, Palm Sunday, on the theme “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Lk 1:30). The Pope called “a happy coincidence” the fact that this “new stage of our pilgrimage” falls in the same year that the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment”. “The focus, prayer and reflection of the Church will turn to you young people, with the desire to receive and, above all, to ‘embrace’ the precious gift that you are to God, to the Church and to the world”, the Pope said, referring to the significant event. “We have chosen to be accompanied on this journey by the example and intercession of Mary, the young woman of Nazareth whom God chose as the Mother of his Son”, Pope Francis said, speaking about the preparation journey: “She walks with us towards the Synod and towards the WYD in Panama”.