Features

Esther Carmona Wagner speaks to pilgrims during the Catholic Christian Outreach session at Anita Villalaz Theatre in Panama City.

January 24, 2019

Young Canadian missionaries offer powerful testimony

PANAMA CITY — Esther Carmona Wagner’s heart was pounding out of her chest just before she took the stage at Anita Villalaz Theatre on Jan. 23. She even tried to ask for a chair because she was afraid her knees…

January 24, 2019

Pope Francis waves from his popemobile as he arrives for World Youth Day in Panama City Jan. 23, 2019.

World Youth Day pilgrims line streets to greet Pope

By Catholic News Service

PANAMA CITY — Pilgrims lined the streets of Panama City to welcome Pope Francis to World Youth Day and his first papal visit to Central America.

January 23, 2019

Wood pallets are used as makeshift kneelers as youth pray after a morning Catechism session with U.S. Bishop Ed Burns Jan. 23, 2019.

Jean Ko Din in Panama: Technical difficulties

By Jean Ko Din, The Catholic Register

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong today.

January 23, 2019

Indigenous World Youth Day pilgrims do a traditional dance during an opening-day performance in a Panama City park Jan. 22, 2019.

Marginalized indigenous youth take centre stage at World Youth Day 2019

By Catholic News Service

PANAMA CITY – One thing is clear about World Youth Day 2019: This one is not focused on convening great masses of people, or the most influential or the loudest. Instead of highlighting the problems faced by youth in the…

January 22, 2019

Pilgrims gather along the Cinta Costera area of Panama City during the opening Mass of World Youth Day Jan. 22, 2019.

'Go home and do more for God', Panama prelate says to young pilgrims who share same challenges

By Catholic News Service

PANAMA CITY – If there was a common denominator, aside from the Christian faith, that united most pilgrims heading to the opening Mass for World Youth Day 2019 in Panama, it was that each person, in his or her own…

January 22, 2019

The gathering ended with WYD Canada leaders teaching the group some Canadian cheers to share with other international pilgrims Jan. 22, 2019.

Canadians urged to share World Youth Day joy

By Jean Ko Din, The Catholic Register

The message to Canadian pilgrims at World Youth Day was clear: Get on social media and share the Good News.

January 22, 2019

WYD volunteers help clean up Costa del Este beach in Panama.

Canadian volunteers avoid sticky situation in Panama

By Jean Ko Din, The Catholic Register

PANAMA CITY – Unexpected challenges are part of the job description when you’re working as a volunteer at World Youth Day Panama, but what Ana Sanchez didn’t expect was that it could also be dangerous.

January 22, 2019

A three-toed sloth is seen in a tree eating leaves in 2018 at El Parque Natural Metropolitano outside Panama City. World Youth Day 2019 is being celebrated Jan. 22-27 in Panama City.

World Youth Day 'manifesto' makes pledge to environment

By Catholic News Service

PANAMA CITY – Young people attending World Youth Day called attention to the world's environmental problems, issuing what they called a "manifesto" for the "care of the common home."

January 22, 2019

Marilyn Calderone, music director at St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish in Toronto, reflects on her first morning in Panama.

Pilgrim’s diary: The adventure begins

By Marilyn Calderone, Catholic Register special

Wow! Waking up in Panama was a real joy!

January 22, 2019

Pilgrims from Mexico pose for a group photo during a tour of the Panama Canal near Panama City Jan. 21, the day before the official opening of World Youth Day in Panama.

'The Pope's youth': Pilgrims get warm welcome in Panama

By Catholic News Service

PANAMA CITY – Jorge Soto wore a wrestling mask typical of Lucha Libre fighters in Mexico and every few steps he took, others would sidle up to have a picture taken with him. The mask was fun to wear, and…