Thousands of young people have accompanied the Pope, from January 24 to 27 in Panama, for the World Youth Day.
Faced with a colorful and cheerful crowd, Pope Francis, since his arrival in Panama, has not failed to warn Latin American political leaders against the corruption that is sweeping the continent.
On Friday, the 25th, in the morning, the Pope went to the juvenile prison in Pacora, near Panama. For security reasons and out of respect for the prisoners, Vatican TV has transmitted few news. However, we have received some pictures of a young man, kneeling before the Pope, who with his violet stole on his shoulders, looked at the young man with great kindness, an image of the «gaze of the Lord», which does not label or condemn, but he sees a beloved son of God, a creature of his hands.
The Pope consecrated the morning of Saturday, January 26, for the consecration of the new altar of the Cathedral of Panama. After having sealed the relics of 4 saints, including Oscar Romero and John Paul II, Pope Francis has spilled oil on the altar that he has then slowly spread over the white marble. In this way he consecrated the altar of the cathedral of Panama, a beautiful colonial building in the heart of the old city, which after successive restorations, now with the white nave and the baroque pink stucco altarpiece, recover all its splendor.
Despite his 82 years, the Pope has not hesitated to address the young people (on the afternoon of January 26) with the language of youtubers and Instagram to talk about the «yes» of Mary, theme of this World Youth Day. «With her ‘yes’, Mary became the most influential woman in the history», «Without social networks, she became the first ‘influencer’ of God», with her God … invites us to risk our «yes» and to trust in the love and promises of God to rediscover beauty and hope. «Here is the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word» (Lk 1,38).
Pope Francis has concluded the WYD in Panama, saying to the young people: «You are the present of God» … bearing in his heart a prayer for the whole continent: «open our eyes tonight; save us from paralysis, confusion, fear and despair».
