The pope described St. Óscar Romero as one of the “prophetic fruits of the church in Central America.”

Panama’s President, Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, gave Pope Francis a very warm state welcome at the Presidential Palace located on the site of the original 1673 building. He welcomed him to this land “of peace and dialogue.”

One of World Youth Day's first event focused on the plight of populations most of the world rarely sees or comes across: the indigenous.

How World Youth Day is changing the church

On his trip to Panama for the World Youth Day celebrations, Pope Francis will visit the Las Garzas de Pacora detention center in Las Garzas, which is Panama's main youth lockup. While there, the pope will pray with the inmates, offer a message of peace and reconciliation and will also hear their confessions. This will be the first time Pope Francis has done so on a pilgrimage.

This year’s W.Y.D takes place less than three months after the conclusion of the Synod for Young People that was held in the Vatican last October.