SW News: From musical concerts, dance performances and movies to theatrical shows and conferences, the World Youth Day Lisbon will feature more than 500 cultural and religious events in diverse locations across the Portuguese capital.

The events can be viewed free of cost in Lisbon and the municipalities of Loures, Almada, Amadora, Cascais, Oeiras and Torres Vedras. As many as 2,500 artists will perform at these venues as a testament to the beauty of faith and the goodness of God from August 1 to 6. The events will showcase the diversity of the Church and its vivaciousness apart from transmitting the faith.

The event will be a very beautiful moment within the day,” said the coordinator of the Youth Festival Claudia Lourenco. “We want the festival to prolong the atmosphere of World Youth Day, an atmosphere of joy, celebration and sharing.”

Some of the events include the Fatima Experience at Patio da Gale, an expo on the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta at Igreja da Graca, an exhibition on the life of St Anthony of Padua at the Museum of Lisbon and a Mozart concert by young inmates of the Leiria Prison at the Gulbenkian Foundation. Churches in the city will be exposing the first-class relics of the host of patron saints of WYD. There will also be sports events in the city as part of WYD.

Separately, the Portuguese Catholic University opened a welcome center meant for volunteers for WYD. All the young men and women assisting pilgrims during the event accessed the center to fetch their credentials and kits. The credentials will give volunteers access to meals and all the venues where the events are taking place.