A group of 650 Maltese aged between 20 and 24 were among three million people from all over the world who gathered in Poland to celebrate World Youth Day with Pope Francis.

During the week-long event that is held in a different country every three years, the Maltese group engaged in prayer with other pilgrims and visited the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps.

The theme for this year’s edition was a quote from the Bible: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”. It was chosen, noted a member of the group, because it reflected the ongoing efforts by the Church to encourage youths to show mercy towards others.

The Pope concluded the event with Holy Mass and spoke to young people about the need to “believe in a new humanity” that was stronger than evil and refused to use borders as barriers.

The group from Malta also had the opportunity to participate in festivals organised by US group Lifeteen. Singing priest Fr Robert Galea, who is based in Australia and who was last year a favourite in singing competition X Factor Australia, was also at the festival.

The next World Youth Day event will be celebrated in Panama in 2019.