Yesterday concluded the World Youth Day (WYD) workshop , with the presence of Pope Francis, in Panama. Like the previous ones, it is an event in which thousands of young people from all over the world attended quotation .

The realization of this event in Latin America highlights a series of joys and challenges faced by the Church in this region. On the one hand, we can see the problems typical of the entire West, and already present for a long time in Europe, progressively taking root in Latin America - secularization, the reduction of the birth rate, moral relativism. There are also very specific challenges, such as the shortage of priests, the rise of Pentecostalism and the radical inequality in the distribution of wealth. Specifically, it is also worth mentioning the difficulties regarding the lack of individual freedoms in some of the Latin American countries - an example is Nicaragua, which has not even been able to participate in some of the activities planned for WYD.

On the other hand, the celebration of WYD once again in this subcontinent -six years ago it was in Brazil-, evidences the vitality and joy of the Catholic faith in the peoples of this region. This strength is expressed especially in the more active understanding of the apostolate of the laity in the Church, the increase in the percentage of the Catholic faithful, the profound sacramental life, and the enthusiastic popular religiosity; traits that can enlighten the Church throughout the world.

This demonstration that faith in Jesus Christ unites so many peoples and moves thousands of young people from so many places for a meeting among themselves and with the Holy Father, is a testimony that the Church is alive and that the message of Jesus Christ continues to touch the hearts of all - including young people.