The Vatican has confirmed over 267 venues will offer lessons on the
faith during Pope Francis’ World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
later this month.
The catecheses – teaching sessions on the faith – will be given by
bishops and cardinals for three days during between July 24 and 26, with
133 of them in Portuguese, 50 in Spanish and 25 in English.
Italian and French are the next largest language groups with 15 sessions
each, while Germans will have the chance to hear the faith eight times
and Poles will be able to find it in their native tongue in five
places.
In addition, the faith will be explained in Arabic, Russian, Croatian, Greek, Czech, Slovenian and Danish.
The three days will each have themes, which are: “Thirsting for hope,
thirsting for God” on July 24, “To be Christ’s disciples” on July 25 and
“To be missionaries: go forth!” on July 26.
They will be given in a total of 20 different languages and will include
an in-depth examination of the Pope’s World Youth Day overall theme:
“Go and make disciples of all nations” from Matthew 28.
One of the two biggest catechesis venues, the Cathedral of Sao Sebastiao
in downtown Rio, will host up to 5,000 pilgrims for a Portuguese
session.
The other large-scale meeting will take place at the Riocentro
Exhibition and Convention Center in the Jacarepaguá area, which can also
hold 5,000 participants.
One of the main venues for English-speakers will be the Vivo Rio Pilgrim
Center, where artists such as Steve Angrisano, Jesse Manibusan, the
Jacob and Matthew Band, and Danielle Rose will be perform on stage
throughout the week.
The educational sessions will begin at 9:00 a.m. with praise conducted
by a group of volunteers selected by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council
for the Laity.
A different bishop or cardinal will speak each day for around 30 minutes, followed by a question-answer session with pilgrims.
Many of the catechists will refer to the document of the fifth General
Conference of the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, held in
Aparecida, Brazil in 2007.
Its theme was “Disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ, so that our
people may have life in him.”
Pope Francis played a key role in drafting
the final document that was issued after the Aparecida gathering.
The Vatican is encouraging bishops and cardinals to also offer their own
personal testimony and speak about positive role models – saints,
blesseds or exemplary youths.
Each day will close with Mass presided over by the catechist, alongside
any priests who are present.
During the morning portion of the gathering
priests will also be available for confession.