[1] Pope Francis announced plans for the event at the end of the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2016 in Brzegi near Kraków, Poland, on 31 July 2016.

The theme coincided with the goals of the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on youth, faith and vocational discernment, held in 2018.

[6] Like the logo, the creation and edition of the official anthem was submitted to a contest, where several proposals were presented to the Archdiocese of Panama, which was conquered by Abdiel González.

On 3 July, during the XLVII Bread and Wine Dinner held at the ATLAPA Convention Center, it was presented to around 3,000 people, in the presence of Panamanian bishops and President Juan Carlos Varela.

The Archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, said that "this hymn expresses the mission to which we are called adisciples and missionaries in these times, following the example of the Virgin Mary".

Among the more than 20 artists confirmed, headliners included Canadian Matt Maher, Australian priest Rob Galea, winners of the 2018 Grammy Alfareros, rock nuns Siervas, and the Brazilian band Missionário Shalom.

[12] The theme of migrants was often mentioned by the Pope during this journey, which was attended by many young Venezuelans at a time when the country was going through a serious political and social crisis.

The archbishop recalled that Panama was the first diocese on the mainland of the Americas, where the Gospel was spread to the rest of the American continent, and spoke of gratitude to God for hosting this WYD: "Our people are ready to receive you, to share their traditions, multiethnic and pluricultural wealth, but in a very special way, share the joy of faith in a God who is acting among us in our personal and community history.

[17][18] The Supreme Pontiff was received by the Panamanian President Varela, local bishops and about two thousand young people, who sang the well-known phrase in Spanish "This is the Pope's youth".

"[21][22][23] This day began with a welcome to Pope Francis in Palacio de las Garzas, received by the Panamanian president, to whom he gave an image of Santa Maria La Antigua in his first official event.

[24][25] At the same time as the meeting of the authorities, the pilgrims of the journey met in their respective catecheses for the second day,[14] whose theme was "Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

By eating with publicans and sinners, Jesus breaks the logic that separates, excludes, isolates and falsely divides between good and bad.After the Penitential Liturgy, some of the young prisoners were able to confess to the Holy Father and to some bishops.

[33] Young people of Latin America prayed the 14 stations that portray the journey of Christ to Calvary, remembering the sufferings present today throughout the world.

It was difficult to recognize the Lord in the suffering brother: we looked away, not to see; we take refuge in the noise, not to hear; we cover our mouths so we do not scream.

It is easier to be close to those who are considered popular and winning.The Pope concluded his speech saying: "We want to be a Church that supports and accompanies, who knows how to say 'I am here', in the lives and crosses of so many Christians who walk beside us.

"[31][32] Pope Francis presided at the morning the Mass consecrating the altar of the Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria la Antigua.

[14][24][34] In the afternoon the Holy Father had a private lunch in the Major Seminary of St. Joseph with a group of 10 young people who participated in WYD, 5 boys and 5 girls, of different nationalities representing the 5 continents.

[24][35] After that, at night time, ending the day, the Pope presided over the vigil with about 600,000 young people in Campo São João Paulo II.

The crowd was invited to listen to three testimonies: the first was that of Erika de Bucktron, mother of four children, and the youngest has Down syndrome, and it was recommended to her to perform an abortion of the latter.

[14][24] At the beginning of the celebration, the Pope was addressed by Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, who thanked the opportunity given to the country to organize this edition of WYD:[37] Thank you for allowing us to prepare and celebrate this Marian-flavored Journey with an American and Caribbean style, with spaces for prayer, formation, renewal and pastoral conversion.

"[13][38][39][40][41] We do not always believe that God can be so concrete in our daily lives, so close and real, and even less that He makes himself present by acting through someone we know, such as a neighbor, a friend, a relative.

It is not uncommon for us to behave like Jesus' townsfolk in Nazareth, preferring a God at a distance: magnificent, good, generous but distant and not bothersome.

(...) God is real, because love is real; God is concrete because love is concrete.At the end of the Mass, the Pope prayed to Our Lady, entrusting to her the young people of the whole world, and said goodbye to the pilgrims, announcing the site of the next WYD in 2022, in Lisbon, Portugal:[41][40][42][43][44] To you, dear young people, a big thank you!

With Mary, continue to say "yes" to the dream that God sowed in you.Present at this Mass were the presidents of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela; of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado; of Colombia, Iván Duque; of Guatemala, Jimmy Morales; of El Salvador, Salvador Sánchez Cerén; and Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández.