Forty Catholic youth associations in Belgium will host a festival in Brussels on 28 September to celebrate Pope Francis’ visit.
The event, aimed at youngsters aged 12 to 30, will celebrate Christian hope and faith in Heysel. Echoing the spirit of World Youth Day (WYD), the festival line-up boasts spiritual walks, workshops, discussions, and a Christian music festival.
Portuguese priest and DJ, Padre Guilherme, who previously performed at Lisbon’s WYD in 2023, will end the evening ahead of group prayer. The weekend’s highlight will be a grand Eucharist celebration by Pope Francis at the King Baudouin Stadium.
Following Pope Francis’ message of "sowing seeds of hope", the "Hope Happening" festival endeavours to engage the youth in Christian faith.
Key issues, such as refugees and climate concerns, will be addressed. The event also prepares young people for Seoul’s WYD in 2027.
