At the end of the Angelus prayer, in the mass with which he closed WYD, in Parque Tejo, in Lisbon, Francisco began by thanking the cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon, Manuel Clemente, and, in him, “the Church and all the Portuguese people”.

“Thank you to the President [of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa], who accompanied us in the events of these days, to national and local institutions for the support and assistance they have given us, to bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay people”, he continued.

Afterwards, he thanked Lisbon, saying that “you will remain in the memory of these young people as a fraternity house and the city of dreams”.

“I also express my gratitude to Cardinal Farrell [prefect of the Dicastery that organizes WYD with a local committee] and to those who prepared these days, as well as to those who accompanied them with prayer”, he said.

The Pope also addressed a “thank you to the volunteers” for “their great service”.

“A special thanks to those who watched over WYD, the patron saints of the event”, he said, highlighting John Paul II (1920-2025, who gave life to World Youth Days).