Ankawa Youth Gathering 2026 Opens with a Message from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

The activities of the Ankawa Youth Gathering 2026 officially commenced under the theme “School of the Apostles – Communion in Mission,” in an atmosphere of prayer and joy. The opening ceremony was attended by His Grace Bishop Bashar Matti Warda, Archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil, the Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq, esteemed priests, religious sisters, and a large gathering of young people.

His Grace Bishop Warda inaugurated the gathering by conveying the greetings and message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to the participants, followed by the presentation of the Holy Father’s recorded video message. In his address, Pope Leo XIV encouraged young people to become active collaborators in the mission of the universal Church and faithful witnesses to Christ within their families and communities, carrying the message of hope and faith to the world of today.

As part of the formation programme, Consecrated Sister Mirvat Kli delivered the opening catechetical session entitled “Partners in Mission.” She emphasized that the mission of the Church is a vocation entrusted to every believer, particularly to young people, calling them to participate actively in the proclamation of the Gospel through lives of faith, service, and Christian witness.

The first day’s programme concluded with an evening of sacred hymns led by the Al-Koukhi Choir from Baghdad. The gathering was marked by an atmosphere of prayer, reflection, and praise, bringing the opening day to a spiritually enriching conclusion and inaugurating a youth encounter centred on Christ and the mission of the Church.