Thousands of young Catholics decked in their national flags crowded the observation post overlooking the Panama Canal on Jan. 21 as the country prepared to host the 14th World Youth Day (WYD) from January 22-29.

It is the first time WYD has been held in Central America. Argentina served as host in 1987 and Brazil in 2013.
Pope Francis is due to attend a special event in Panama City on Jan. 23, joining over 150,000 pilgrims from 155 countries including communist Cuba and China, which are officially atheist, and the United States.

Mexico's Jorge Soto, draped in a Lucha Libre wrestling gown, described the event as a "feel good" experience that emphasizes spiritual kinship as people search for meaning and wrestle with increasing secularism back home.

"It's up to us to come up with solutions and help others not slip away from their lives of faith," Catholic News Service quoted him as saying.

Charlie Martin, a teenager from Australia, said the warm reception he had experienced in this country of four million people, 89 percent of whom are Catholic, had made him feel like a rock star.

"It's been amazing. You feel like a celebrity," the 16-year-old said. "We walk into shopping centers and people are clapping for us."

As he spoke, a snaking conga line of young people passed by beating drums and praising the pontiff and the Catholic Church, Catholic News Service reported.

"I wanted to experience this enthusiasm," said Vietnamese seminarian Hien Vu. "And see the hope of the Catholic Church."

"We've heard good things about (WYD)," said Jose Gonzalez, a Protestant who was visiting the canal with his Catholic wife.

He said people of different faiths should not fear one another, but learn from each other spiritually and use that to forge closer bonds.

Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Donald F. Hanchon said it was refreshing to see so many young Catholics expressing their faith in a fun and free fashion.

This year's event takes place three months after the Vatican hosted the Synod of Bishops' special assembly for young people in October, and just weeks before a special convention of bishops in Rome to address the abuse of minors within the Church.