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Pope Francis has announced World Youth Day is returning to Asia for the first time in three decades. He made the announcement Sunday at the end of his five-day trip to Portugal.
He's presiding over a massive open-air Mass for an estimated 1.5 million people who camped out overnight on a vast field. The sun rose over them so they could attend the grand finale of the World Youth Day festival.
Francis' trip has been largely improvised: There have been speeches ditched in favor of off-the-cuff conversations with young people and a formal prayer for peace at the Fatima shrine, long associated with Soviet aggression.
Cardinal Manuel Clemente, the patriarch of Lisbon, was the main celebrant for the Tuesday evening outdoor opening Mass for World Youth Day held at Eduardo VII Park on Aug. 1, 2023. / Credit: Jesus Huerta /JMJ Lisboa 2023/Flickr JMJ Lisboa 2023
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LISBON, Portugal (AP) Pope Francis told young people on Sunday the Catholic Church needs them and urged them to follow their dreams as he wrapped up World Y