"I am arriving in Brazil in a few
hours and my heart is already full of joy because soon I will be with you to
celebrate the 28th WYD.." From the plane that is taking him to Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis greeted, with a tweet, the young people who are preparing to spend memorable days with him.
Francis' first international apostolic trip began this morning at 8:53, when the papal plane took off from Rome's Fiumicino airport.
Climbing onto the Airbus, following the style he has set as Pope, him (pictured) carrying his own hand luggage, a black bag evidently containing documents, probably the addresses he will give between today and Sunday for a final reading.
The plane will land in Rio de Janeiro at 4pm local time, 9 pm Rome time, but the traditional welcome ceremony will take place an hour later, in the garden of Guanabara Palace. President Dilma Rousseff will welcome the Pope and for the occasion, has invited all of the Presidents of Latin America to Rio.
The main focus of the papal visit is World Youth Day, which has the theme "Go and make disciples of all nations!" chosen by Benedict XVI, who wanted it to be held by Brazil, without being able to predict that the celebration would be led by the first Latin American pope in history.
A Pope who, however, has put his stamp on his visit to Brazil, making some changes to the program, starting from the visit, Wednesday, to the Marian shrine of Aparecida. The place is dear to Francis not only known for his devotion to Mary - he entrusted WYD celebrations to the Virgin as well as his pontificate - but also because in 2007 the then Cardinal of Buenos Aires led the committee that the fifth conference of the Latin American commissioned for the drafting of the conclusions.
It is the "Aparecida Document" in which he denounced violence and corruption and emphasized the Church's commitment to the "new outsiders", the marginalized, the poor, those who are denied justice.
Themes that have appeared dear to him in these first months of his pontificate. Pope Francis will also visit the hospital São Francisco de Assis Na Providência, specializing addiction rehabilitation from alcohol and drugs on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, then, following a habit he already had in Buenos Aires, he will visit a favela, Varginha and on Friday morning and receive some young prisoners.
As for the young people - two million according to the latest estimates - who have converged on Rio de Janeiro for the World Youth Day, the first "official" meeting with them - the "welcome party" - is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, along the famous promenade of Copacabana.
Friday morning the Pope will hear confessions in the park of the Quinta da Boa Vista. Following a consolidated WYD tradition Francis lunch with 12 young people representing the five continents.
On Friday night, the Copacabana beach will become the unusual setting for the Way of the Cross, while Saturday Guaratiba esplanade will be renamed "Campus Fidei", to accommodate the Prayer Vigil with young people, who will remain there all night, until Sunday morning and the concluding celebration of the 28th World Youth Day.
The Pope will also get the opportunity to meet the Coordinating Committee of the Latin America Bishops Council and the leaders of Brazil, to receive the keys to the city and to bless the flags for the Olympic Games of 2016.