Waving flags and banners, wearing rucksacks and big smiles, a group of more than 100 young people returned to Malta this afternoon after joining millions of others from around the world for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland.

“Seeing millions of people from all culture and countries, singing together, is like a dream,” Luke Camenzuli, attending his first World Youth Day, told the Times of Malta on arrival at the airport.

“The Maltese group was singing and dancing wherever we went, bringing groups from other countries into the crowd, Maltese flags everywhere.”

As many as three million people attended the closing celebration addressed by Pope Francis, at the event in Krakow. Participants engaged in prayer, entertainment and reflection during the weeklong event, which takes place in a different country every three years.

The next event will take place in Panama in 2019.

During his speech, the Pope spoke to young people on the need to “believe in a new humanity,” which is stronger than evil and refuses to use borders as barriers.

As part of his visit to Poland, his first in Central and Eastern Europe, the Pope also visited the Auschwitz death camp and spoke on the current wave of terrorism, describing it as not a war of religions but “a war of interests, for money, resources”.

Marija Cachia, who is part of the group Azzjoni Kattolika and was attending her fourth World Youth Day, described the experience as a deeply fulfilling one both spiritually and in terms of the friendships created.

“The spirit – of Christ, of community – is the same at every World Youth Day, but there are always differences,” she said. “In Poland we were struck by the warmth and hospitality, by the help we received from the volunteers.”

Fr Clinton Farrugia, who was part of the organising team for the MSSP Oratory, said the success of the event and the pope’s message were evidence that the Church was still alive in the world today.

“When there’s so much death around us, seeing different cultures expressing their faith together, allows you to you realise that there are still people finding the meaning of their life in Christ,” he said.

“For the people who took part this was not just a holiday. It’s an opportunity to take stock of where you are in your spiritual life and see the road forward. It’s not just about the festivals and the atmosphere; the experience touched a lot of people, and many have made decisions that will affect their lives going forward.”

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