World Youth Day kicks off in Rio

Criado em 23/07/13 11h02 e atualizado em 23/07/13 14h03
Por Alana Gandra Edição:Talita Cavalcante/Nira Foster Fonte:Agência Brasil

Rio de Janeiro – World Youth Day officially started today (July 23). Youth and pilgrims can visit a Vocations Fair at the Quinta da Boa Vista park in the northern area of the city. Some 50 confession boxes will be made available to visitors, as well as vocations booths, acoustic tents, and a place for Eucharistic Adoration (where the consecrated host is displayed in a special holder, and people come to pray and worship Jesus).

Other venues at the fair are the Catholic Point, where pilgrims can dance to catholic electronic music, and the 180° Area, for extreme sports enthusiasts. Also during the Vocations Fair, the pope will hear confession from five youths from different nations on Friday (July 26).

Pope Francis's official schedule also includes rest time on Tuesday at the residence of Sumaré (home to the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro),  the pope's accommodation while in the city.

A debate on the role of youth in sustainable development and the promotion of peace will be held in collaboration with the United Nations (UN). The “Youth and the Culture of Peace” meeting will take place at the Brazilian Bar Association (“OAB”) building where consulates of the international delegations will have offices during the event. The UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, will participate in the debate.

Five main events are planned for the WYD, with Pope Francis attending four of them. The first of them is an opening mass to be celebrated by the local archbishop, Orani João Tempesta, this evening on Copacabana Beach.

Edition: Talita Cavalcante/Nira Foster
Translation: Mayra Borges/Olga Bardawil