- Official Theme Song | WYD Lisbon 2023 Official Video
The theme song for World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 «Há Pressa no Ar» (“There’s a Rush in the Air”) focuses on Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth when she “went with haste” (Lk 1:39).
Everyone will hear our voice, / Todos vão ouvir a nossa voz,
Let us lift our arms, There’s a rush in the air. / Levantemos os braços, há pressa no ar.
Jesus lives and does not leave us alone: / Jesus vive e não nos deixa sós:
We will not cease to love. / Não mais deixaremos de amar.
About the theme song
João Paulo Vaz, a priest, and Pedro Ferreira, a teacher and musician, were chosen among hundreds of contestants to compose the song. Friends for years and both belonging to the Diocese of Coimbra, Ferreira began with a simple melody he composed in “a small room, alone by the piano”, and Fr. Vaz added the lyrics. The priest tied together previous WYD themes, with special emphasis on connecting WYD Panama 2019 to the WYD Lisbon 2023 theme. In creating the song, Ferreira and Fr. Vaz noted how their relationship to Our Lady deepened during the process. “It’s quite funny that I got the news about the song being chosen on the month of completing 25 years of priesthood,” said Fr. Vaz.
The WYD Lisbon 2023 theme song inspires youth from around the world to turn to Our Lady for guidance and imitate her haste to spread the Good News of the Lord.