A group of young Catholics took part in the 10th iteration of the All-Russian Meeting of Catholic Youth on August 25, 2023, at the Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria in St. Petersburg, Russia. Approximately 400 youths from Russia and neighboring nations are attending this event in St. Petersburg, a stark contrast to the mere 18 Russian youths who participated in World Youth Day in Lisbon. Notably, some attendees embarked on journeys spanning over 5,000 miles to join the gathering.
During his address to the youth, Pope Francis encouraged them to embrace courage by substituting their fears with aspirations. He urged them to become pioneers of dreams rather than harboring fears, emphasizing the value of envisioning significant achievements.
This assembly carried forward the essence of World Youth Day, preserving its impact through accounts shared by young individuals, the pope’s message, and an interactive session for questions and answers. While the Vatican has published the text of the pope’s address, the detailed Q&A interaction remains undisclosed. However, organizers of the event have provided a livestream link for interested viewers to access the Q&A exchange.