More than 4,000 young people came together in Chulucanas, Piura, in northern Peru for the 2026 National Youth Day. Held from July 30 to August 2, the event carried the motto “Be brave! Christ lives” and drew participants from across the country for days of faith, catechesis, and community.
Chulucanas holds special significance as the first place in Peru where Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, served. The activities were spread across five locations around the city at the same time. While some youth spent time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, others took part in workshops, team-building activities, and a talent show. Nashla Apeña from the Santa María Magdalena parish in the Diocese of Chimbote told ACI Prensa that the talent show reminded her that “each of us has something to give in this world.”
Pope Leo XIV sent a message on August 1 that was received with great joy. In it, he encouraged the young people not to be afraid to be instruments of God to rekindle hope. He also urged them to share what they had lived during those days. “Don’t keep what you experience on this day to yourselves. Don’t let it remain only in photos on your cell phones or videos on social media,” he said.
The gathering also featured new initiatives for evangelization. One was the presentation of Alpha Ados, a program from Colombia made up of ten chapters across eight sessions. Andrea Garzón, the project’s representative, explained that it aims to offer young people a welcoming, community space for listening and for asking questions about life, faith, and purpose.
Another highlight was the “Take a Chance” vocational fair held in Chulucanas’ Plaza de Armas. Various religious congregations took part, presenting their charisms and inviting youth to discern a call to the priesthood or consecrated life.