The Youth
Cross and the Icon of Our Lady are currently in the host-city of WYD.
After two years of pilgrimage around the different municipalities of
Brazil, the symbols arrived in the city of Rio de Janeiro on July 6.
In the end, Rio will host a 16-day
pilgrimage with an intense and diverse schedule that will be spread out
across the city.
Under the organization of the Local Organizer Committee
(COL) – particularly its pre-WYD department- and the Archbishopric of
Saint Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro, the events featuring these symbols
given as a gift by Blessed John Paul II announce the arrival of WYD to
the locals.
“At the heart of WYD”
The neighborhood of Lapa was the stage for
“At the heart of WYD,” an event for the first day of the symbols’
pilgrimage through Rio. Featuring shows and testimonies, the event went
until late at night. The symbols were welcomed with joy by the young
people. Lots gathered around them in order to pray in front of and to
touch these symbols.
On stage, the host was the Costa Rican singer
Martín Valverde, an international star, and the Brazilian singer Ziza
Fernandes, the musical director for the Main Events of WYD Rio2013.
According to Valverde, more than just
singing for thousands of young people, it is an honor to meet the young
people from all over the world who are soon going to arrive in Rio de
Janeiro. “For many young, it will be the wake-up call for making good
choices. I think it will also be an example for the youth as they return
home, to give to their young neighbors waiting for them. The best thing
happening in Rio must be you, young folks”, he emphasized.
Ziza highlighted the fact that WYD will be a
unique spiritual and cultural opportunity to experience different
methods of evangelization through music. “The first criteria was to
prefer artists already signed up for the Youth Festival. We followed the
list and started researching the artists who could make up the mosaic
representing people from everywhere, in the best possible way. And,
after that, we selected those representing Brazil. Thanks be to God, we
have plenty of singers,” she said.
For the executive director for the pre-WYD
sector, Jefferson Merighetti, what remains from the first day of the
pilgrimage are the symbols of WYD. “From the first until the last event
in Lapa, there is great Carioca identity. This is a place filled with
joy and devotion, where God comes first. People stopped and looked.
There are many people living out their faith in society, putting God in
first place despite the vast plurality of society. The joy and
commitment of our neighbors gets more and more evident as we get closer
to the date. We see the city is already changing colors, with the new
shine of WYD,” he highlighted.
“The WYD is a gift from on high”
The second day of pilgrimage was remarkable
and historical. The symbols were housed at the Holy Sanctuary of the
Miraculous Medal in Tijuca (north zone of the city) and the relic of
John Paul II was exhibited for the first time at a WYD event. The mass
was celebrated by Rio de Janeiro’s Archbishop, Orani Tempesta, with the
presence of the President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity at the
Vatican, Stanislaw Rylko.
Welcomed with a flag depicting this year’s
WYD motto: “With Mary, we are disciples and missionaries for Jesus
Christ.”, the congregation filled every corner the church. The liturgy
reflecting upon the sending out of the 72 disciples to the world and
Archbishop Orani stated that those disciples are today’s youth.
“Jesus clearly wanted to establish a
community in which the disciples would be the extension of His presence.
Today, you are these disciples!”
Cardinal Rylko declared that the biggest
joy in his trip to Brazil was meeting a happy and vivacious community.
“The Holy Father Francis teaches us that having a young heart is the key
for having faith. WYD is about to start. Let’s hand over the
intercession for these events’ spiritual fruits. We know that WYD is not
made only by human hands; it is a gift from above. John Paul II said
the youth should soar and Pope Francis said that young people should
dedicate their lives to great things. Let us trust, above all, in divine
providence.